diff --git a/mapper.go b/mapper.go
index 3f980c2..15ab88d 100644
--- a/mapper.go
+++ b/mapper.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package kong
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"math/bits"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ func (m *mapperValueAdapter) IsBool() bool {
 //
 // Mappers can be associated with concrete fields via pointer, reflect.Type, reflect.Kind, or via a "type" tag.
 //
-// Additionally, if a type implements this interface, it will be used.
+// Additionally, if a type implements the MappverValue interface, it will be used.
 type Mapper interface {
 	// Decode ctx.Value with ctx.Scanner into target.
 	Decode(ctx *DecodeContext, target reflect.Value) error
@@ -462,3 +463,16 @@ func JoinEscaped(s []string, sep rune) string {
 	}
 	return strings.Join(escaped, string(sep))
 }
+
+// FileContentFlag is a flag value that loads a file's contents into its value.
+type FileContentFlag []byte
+
+func (f *FileContentFlag) Decode(ctx *DecodeContext) error { // nolint: golint
+	filename := ctx.Scan.PopValue("filename")
+	data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filename) // nolint: gosec
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open %q: %s", filename, err)
+	}
+	*f = FileContentFlag(data)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/mapper_test.go b/mapper_test.go
index 86e3a41..6d393ad 100644
--- a/mapper_test.go
+++ b/mapper_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 package kong_test
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/url"
+	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -149,3 +152,17 @@ func TestMapperValue(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "foo", cli.Value.decoded)
 }
+
+func TestFileContentFlag(t *testing.T) {
+	var cli struct {
+		File kong.FileContentFlag
+	}
+	f, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer os.Remove(f.Name())
+	fmt.Fprint(f, "hello world")
+	f.Close()
+	_, err = mustNew(t, &cli).Parse([]string{"--file", f.Name()})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, []byte("hello world"), []byte(cli.File))
+}