diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py
index aa946f3..0a0db2f 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     BSP = 0
     DISTRO = 1
     SOFTWARE = 2
+    CORE = 3
     ERROR_NO_LAYER_CONF = 98
     ERROR_BSP_DISTRO = 99
 
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@
 
     ldata.setVar('LAYERDIR', layer_path)
     try:
-        ldata = bb.parse.handle(lconf, ldata, include=True)
+        ldata = bb.parse.handle(lconf, ldata, include=True, baseconfig=True)
     except:
         raise RuntimeError("Parsing of layer.conf from layer: %s failed" % layer_path)
     ldata.expandVarref('LAYERDIR')
@@ -106,7 +107,13 @@
         if distros:
             is_distro = True
 
-    if is_bsp and is_distro:
+    layer['collections'] = _get_layer_collections(layer['path'])
+
+    if layer_name == "meta" and "core" in layer['collections']:
+        layer['type'] = LayerType.CORE
+        layer['conf']['machines'] = machines
+        layer['conf']['distros'] = distros
+    elif is_bsp and is_distro:
         layer['type'] = LayerType.ERROR_BSP_DISTRO
     elif is_bsp:
         layer['type'] = LayerType.BSP
@@ -117,8 +124,6 @@
     else:
         layer['type'] = LayerType.SOFTWARE
 
-    layer['collections'] = _get_layer_collections(layer['path'])
-
     return layer
 
 def detect_layers(layer_directories, no_auto):
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py
index a80a584..b76163f 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 class BSPCheckLayer(OECheckLayerTestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(self):
-        if self.tc.layer['type'] != LayerType.BSP:
+        if self.tc.layer['type'] not in (LayerType.BSP, LayerType.CORE):
             raise unittest.SkipTest("BSPCheckLayer: Layer %s isn't BSP one." %\
                 self.tc.layer['name'])
 
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py
index 491a139..722d3cf 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 
 class CommonCheckLayer(OECheckLayerTestCase):
     def test_readme(self):
+        if self.tc.layer['type'] == LayerType.CORE:
+            raise unittest.SkipTest("Core layer's README is top level")
+
         # The top-level README file may have a suffix (like README.rst or README.txt).
         readme_files = glob.glob(os.path.join(self.tc.layer['path'], '[Rr][Ee][Aa][Dd][Mm][Ee]*'))
         self.assertTrue(len(readme_files) > 0,
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py
index f0bee54..a353324 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 class DistroCheckLayer(OECheckLayerTestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(self):
-        if self.tc.layer['type'] != LayerType.DISTRO:
+        if self.tc.layer['type'] not in (LayerType.DISTRO, LayerType.CORE):
             raise unittest.SkipTest("DistroCheckLayer: Layer %s isn't Distro one." %\
                 self.tc.layer['name'])