diff --git a/pixie/cli.py b/pixie/cli.py
index 024c93a..127d94e 100644
--- a/pixie/cli.py
+++ b/pixie/cli.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import argparse
 import pathlib
 import os
+import json
 
 from pixie import (
     PIXIECompiler,
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ def _generate_parser(descr):
         help="optimization level", default=3,)
     parser.add_argument("-o", metavar="<lib>", help="output library")
     parser.add_argument("files", help="input source files", nargs="+")
+    parser.add_argument("-C", "--config", help="Configuration JSON file")
     return parser
 
 
@@ -78,6 +80,12 @@ def pixie_cc():
     compiler.compile()
 
 
+def load_config(config_file):
+    with open(config_file, 'r') as f:
+        config = json.load(f)
+    return config
+
+
 def pixie_cythonize():
     parser = _generate_parser("pixie-cythonize")
     args = vars(parser.parse_args())
@@ -85,15 +93,49 @@ def pixie_cythonize():
     opt_flags, clang_flags, library_name = \
         _translate_common_options(parser, args)
 
-    # cythonize the source
-    inps = args["files"]
-    tus = []
-    for inp in inps:
-        path = pathlib.Path(inp)
-        tus.append(TranslationUnit.from_cython_source(str(path),
-                   extra_clang_flags=clang_flags))
+    if args["config"] is not None:
+        config = load_config(args.config)
+        assert 'export_config' in config
+        assert 'translation_unit' in config
+
+        export_config = ExportConfiguration()
+        assert 'symbols' in config['export_config']
+        for symbol in config['export_config']['symbols']:
+            assert 'python_name' in symbol
+            assert 'symbol_name' in symbol
+            assert 'signature' in symbol
+            export_config.add_symbol(**symbol)
+
+        tus = []
+        for tu in config['translation_unit']:
+            assert 'name' in tu
+            if 'source' in tu:
+                tus.append(
+                    TranslationUnit(**tu)
+                )
+            elif 'path' in tu:
+                file_path = tu.pop('path')
+                file_type = file_path.split('.')[-1]
+                if file_type == 'c':
+                    tus.append(
+                        TranslationUnit.from_c_source(file_path, **tu)
+                    )
+                elif file_type == 'pyx':
+                    tus.append(
+                        TranslationUnit.from_cython_source(file_path, **tu)
+                    )
+            else:
+                raise ValueError("Invalid file type provided in path")
+    else:
+        # cythonize the source
+        inps = args["files"]
+        tus = []
+        for inp in inps:
+            path = pathlib.Path(inp)
+            tus.append(TranslationUnit.from_cython_source(str(path),
+                       extra_clang_flags=clang_flags))
+        export_config = ExportConfiguration()
 
-    export_config = ExportConfiguration()
     target_description = targets.get_default_configuration()
     compiler = PIXIECompiler(
         library_name=library_name,
diff --git a/pixie/tests/test_cli.py b/pixie/tests/test_cli.py
index 012cc25..d109a5b 100644
--- a/pixie/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/pixie/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -5,6 +5,32 @@
 
 from pixie.tests.support import PixieTestCase
 
+example_config = """
+{
+    "translation_unit": [
+    {
+      "name": "llvm_foo_double_double",
+      "source": "int _Z3fooPdS_(double* a, double* b, double* c) {
+                    *c = *a + *b;
+                }"
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "llvm_foo_float_float",
+      "path": "llvm_foo_float_float.c",
+      "extra_flags": []
+    },
+  ],
+  "export_config": {
+      "symbols": [
+        {
+          "python_name": "foo",
+          "symbol_name": "_Z3fooPdS_",
+          "signature": "void(double*, double*, double*)"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+}"""
+
 
 class TestCLI(PixieTestCase):
 
@@ -28,6 +54,41 @@ def test_pixie_cc_basic(self):
             self.assertEqual(files[0], cfile_name)
             self.assertTrue(files[1].startswith(testlib_name))
 
+    def test_pixie_cc_config(self):
+        cfile_name = "test.c"
+        cfile_source = textwrap.dedent(
+            """
+            int f(x) {
+                return x + 1;
+            }
+            """)
+        json_file_name = "config.json"
+        json_file_source = example_config
+        tu_cfile_name = "llvm_foo_float_float.c"
+        tu_cfile_source = textwrap.dedent(
+            """
+            int foo(float* a, float* b, float* c) { *c = *a + *b; }
+            """)
+        with TemporaryDirectory(prefix=self.tmpdir.name) as tmpdir:
+            cfile_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, cfile_name)
+            with open(cfile_path, "wt") as f:
+                f.write(cfile_source)
+            json_file_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, json_file_name)
+            with open(json_file_path, "wt") as f:
+                f.write(json_file_source)
+            with open(os.path.join(tmpdir, tu_cfile_name), "wt") as f:
+                f.write(tu_cfile_source)
+            testlib_name = "testclib"
+            command = ["pixie-cc", cfile_name, "-g", "-O0", "-o",
+                       testlib_name, "-C", json_file_name]
+            subprocess.run(command, check=True, cwd=tmpdir)
+            files = sorted(os.listdir(tmpdir))
+            self.assertEqual(4, len(files))
+            self.assertEqual(files[0], json_file_name)
+            self.assertEqual(files[1], tu_cfile_name)
+            self.assertEqual(files[2], cfile_name)
+            self.assertTrue(files[3].startswith(testlib_name))
+
     def test_pixie_cc_two_files(self):
         cfile1_name = "test1.c"
         cfile1_source = textwrap.dedent(