2 files changed, 34 insertions, 3 deletions
diff --git a/tools/binman/etype/blob_ext.py b/tools/binman/etype/blob_ext.py
index cc8d91bb59..51779c88c9 100644
--- a/tools/binman/etype/blob_ext.py
+++ b/tools/binman/etype/blob_ext.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ class Entry_blob_ext(Entry_blob):
     Note: This should not be used by itself. It is normally used as a parent
     class by other entry types.
 
+    If the file providing this blob is missing, binman can optionally ignore it
+    and produce a broken image with a warning.
+
     See 'blob' for Properties / Entry arguments.
     """
     def __init__(self, section, etype, node):
@@ -26,6 +29,10 @@ class Entry_blob_ext(Entry_blob):
 
     def ObtainContents(self):
         self._filename = self.GetDefaultFilename()
-        self._pathname = tools.GetInputFilename(self._filename)
-        self.ReadBlobContents()
-        return True
+        self._pathname = tools.GetInputFilename(self._filename,
+                                                self.section.GetAllowMissing())
+        # Allow the file to be missing
+        if not self._pathname:
+            self.SetContents(b'')
+            return True
+        return super().ObtainContents()
diff --git a/tools/binman/etype/section.py b/tools/binman/etype/section.py
index f108121c3a..9b718f1fa7 100644
--- a/tools/binman/etype/section.py
+++ b/tools/binman/etype/section.py
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ class Entry_section(Entry):
         name-prefix: Adds a prefix to the name of every entry in the section
             when writing out the map
 
+    Properties:
+        _allow_missing: True if this section permits external blobs to be
+            missing their contents. The second will produce an image but of
+            course it will not work.
+
     Since a section is also an entry, it inherits all the properies of entries
     too.
 
@@ -49,6 +54,7 @@ class Entry_section(Entry):
         self._sort = False
         self._skip_at_start = None
         self._end_4gb = False
+        self._allow_missing = False
 
     def ReadNode(self):
         """Read properties from the image node"""
@@ -535,3 +541,21 @@ class Entry_section(Entry):
 
     def WriteChildData(self, child):
         return True
+
+    def SetAllowMissing(self, allow_missing):
+        """Set whether a section allows missing external blobs
+
+        Args:
+            allow_missing: True if allowed, False if not allowed
+        """
+        self._allow_missing = allow_missing
+        for entry in self._entries.values():
+            entry.SetAllowMissing(allow_missing)
+
+    def GetAllowMissing(self):
+        """Get whether a section allows missing external blobs
+
+        Returns:
+            True if allowed, False if not allowed
+        """
+        return self._allow_missing