diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index b14262b5..65f515fd 100755
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ the run step:
         # A map specifying files that should be injected into the container.
         # The map key is the alias referencing a given file (as configured in
         # the "local-files" section of the global configuration file) or a
-        # relative path to a file/directory in the build directory.  The value
+        # relative path to a file/directory in the build directory. The value
         # is the path the given file should be mounted at within the container.
         files:
           namespaced.file.alias1: "/path/to/readonly/file/or/dir"
@@ -829,12 +829,13 @@ within service container configuration:
 
             # A map specifying files that should be injected into the container.
             # The map key is the alias referencing a given file (as configured in
-            # the "local-files" section of the global configuration file) and the
-            # value is the path the given file should be mounted at within the
-            # container.
+            # the "local-files" section of the global configuration file) or a
+            # relative path to a file/directory in the build directory. The value
+            # is the path the given file should be mounted at within the container.
             files:
               namespaced.file.alias1: "/path/to/readonly/file/or/dir"
               namespaced.file.alias2: "/path/to/readwrite/file/or/dir:rw"
+              build/dir/file: "/path/to/build/dir/file"
 
             # A list specifying other service containers whose exposed volumes
             # should be mapped into this service container's file system. Any
diff --git a/buildrunner/steprunner/tasks/run.py b/buildrunner/steprunner/tasks/run.py
index b31dd248..7624730f 100644
--- a/buildrunner/steprunner/tasks/run.py
+++ b/buildrunner/steprunner/tasks/run.py
@@ -467,6 +467,38 @@ def _archive_file(
                 properties,
             )
 
+    def _get_local_file(
+        self, buildrunner_config: BuildRunnerConfig, file_alias: str
+    ) -> str:
+        """
+        Lookup file alias from global config or as a local file.
+        :param buildrunner_config: buildrunner global configuration
+        :param file_alias: the file alias
+        :return: the local file to use (if available)
+        :raises BuildRunnerConfigurationError: the file alias is not found and is not a valid local file
+        """
+        f_local = buildrunner_config.get_local_files_from_alias(file_alias)
+        if not f_local:
+            f_local = os.path.realpath(
+                os.path.join(self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir, file_alias)
+            )
+            if (
+                f_local != self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir
+                and not f_local.startswith(
+                    self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir + os.path.sep
+                )
+            ):
+                raise BuildRunnerConfigurationError(
+                    f'Mount path of "{file_alias}" attempts to step out of '
+                    f'source directory "{self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir}"'
+                )
+
+            if not os.path.exists(f_local):
+                raise BuildRunnerConfigurationError(
+                    f"Cannot find valid alias for files entry '{file_alias}' nor path at '{f_local}'"
+                )
+        return f_local
+
     # pylint: disable=too-many-statements,too-many-branches,too-many-locals
     def _start_service_container(self, name, service: Service):
         """
@@ -603,11 +635,7 @@ def _start_service_container(self, name, service: Service):
         if service.files:
             for f_alias, f_path in service.files.items():
                 # lookup file from alias
-                f_local = buildrunner_config.get_local_files_from_alias(f_alias)
-                if not f_local or not os.path.exists(f_local):
-                    raise BuildRunnerConfigurationError(
-                        f"Cannot find valid local file for alias '{f_alias}'"
-                    )
+                f_local = self._get_local_file(buildrunner_config, f_alias)
 
                 if f_path[-3:] not in [":ro", ":rw"]:
                     f_path = f_path + ":ro"
@@ -980,29 +1008,7 @@ def run(self, context: dict):  # pylint: disable=too-many-statements,too-many-br
         # see if we need to inject any files
         if self.step.files:
             for f_alias, f_path in self.step.files.items():
-                # lookup file from alias
-                f_local = buildrunner_config.get_local_files_from_alias(
-                    f_alias,
-                )
-                if not f_local:
-                    f_local = os.path.realpath(
-                        os.path.join(self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir, f_alias)
-                    )
-                    if (
-                        f_local != self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir
-                        and not f_local.startswith(
-                            self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir + os.path.sep
-                        )
-                    ):
-                        raise BuildRunnerConfigurationError(
-                            f'Mount path of "{f_alias}" attempts to step out of '
-                            f'source directory "{self.step_runner.build_runner.build_dir}"'
-                        )
-
-                    if not os.path.exists(f_local):
-                        raise BuildRunnerConfigurationError(
-                            f"Cannot find valid alias for files entry '{f_alias}' nor path at '{f_local}'"
-                        )
+                f_local = self._get_local_file(buildrunner_config, f_alias)
 
                 if f_path[-3:] not in [":ro", ":rw"]:
                     f_path = f_path + ":ro"
diff --git a/tests/test-files/test-build_dir_mount.yaml b/tests/test-files/test-build_dir_mount.yaml
index 488bea9b..d25d874c 100644
--- a/tests/test-files/test-build_dir_mount.yaml
+++ b/tests/test-files/test-build_dir_mount.yaml
@@ -4,9 +4,17 @@
 steps:
   test-build_dir_mount:
     run:
+      services:
+        service1:
+          image: {{ DOCKER_REGISTRY }}/ubuntu:latest
+          files:
+            # Obvious directory that should succeed
+            .: /test_services_dir
+          cmd: |
+            set -eux
+            [ -d /test_services_dir ]
       image: {{ DOCKER_REGISTRY }}/ubuntu:latest
       files:
-        # Obvious directory that should succeed
         .: /test_dir
       cmds:
         - |