diff --git a/aggregate.py b/aggregate.py
index 4da1133..6473875 100644
--- a/aggregate.py
+++ b/aggregate.py
@@ -64,9 +64,14 @@ def build_discussion_section(history: list[str]) -> str:
         sections.append(f"### Discussion Excerpt {i}\n\n{paste.strip()}")
     return "\n\n---\n\n".join(sections)
 
-def build_files_section(base_dir: Path, files: list[str]) -> str:
+def build_files_section(base_dir: Path, files: list[str | dict]) -> str:
     sections = []
-    for entry in files:
+    for entry_raw in files:
+        if isinstance(entry_raw, dict):
+            entry = entry_raw.get("path")
+        else:
+            entry = entry_raw
+
         paths = resolve_paths(base_dir, entry)
         if not paths:
             sections.append(f"### `{entry}`\n\n```text\nERROR: no files matched: {entry}\n```")
@@ -100,7 +105,7 @@ def build_screenshots_section(base_dir: Path, screenshots: list[str]) -> str:
     return "\n\n---\n\n".join(sections)
 
 
-def build_file_items(base_dir: Path, files: list[str]) -> list[dict]:
+def build_file_items(base_dir: Path, files: list[str | dict]) -> list[dict]:
     """
     Return a list of dicts describing each file, for use by ai_client when it
     wants to upload individual files rather than inline everything as markdown.
@@ -111,12 +116,20 @@ def build_file_items(base_dir: Path, files: list[str]) -> list[dict]:
         content  : str   (file text, or error string)
         error    : bool
         mtime    : float (last modification time, for skip-if-unchanged optimization)
+        tier     : int | None (optional tier for context management)
     """
     items = []
-    for entry in files:
+    for entry_raw in files:
+        if isinstance(entry_raw, dict):
+            entry = entry_raw.get("path")
+            tier = entry_raw.get("tier")
+        else:
+            entry = entry_raw
+            tier = None
+
         paths = resolve_paths(base_dir, entry)
         if not paths:
-            items.append({"path": None, "entry": entry, "content": f"ERROR: no files matched: {entry}", "error": True, "mtime": 0.0})
+            items.append({"path": None, "entry": entry, "content": f"ERROR: no files matched: {entry}", "error": True, "mtime": 0.0, "tier": tier})
             continue
         for path in paths:
             try:
@@ -131,10 +144,10 @@ def build_file_items(base_dir: Path, files: list[str]) -> list[dict]:
                 content = f"ERROR: {e}"
                 mtime = 0.0
                 error = True
-            items.append({"path": path, "entry": entry, "content": content, "error": error, "mtime": mtime})
+            items.append({"path": path, "entry": entry, "content": content, "error": error, "mtime": mtime, "tier": tier})
     return items
 
-def build_summary_section(base_dir: Path, files: list[str]) -> str:
+def build_summary_section(base_dir: Path, files: list[str | dict]) -> str:
     """
     Build a compact summary section using summarize.py — one short block per file.
     Used as the initial <context> block instead of full file contents.
@@ -279,7 +292,7 @@ def build_tier3_context(file_items: list[dict], screenshot_base_dir: Path, scree
     return "\n\n---\n\n".join(parts)
 
 
-def build_markdown(base_dir: Path, files: list[str], screenshot_base_dir: Path, screenshots: list[str], history: list[str], summary_only: bool = False) -> str:
+def build_markdown(base_dir: Path, files: list[str | dict], screenshot_base_dir: Path, screenshots: list[str], history: list[str], summary_only: bool = False) -> str:
     parts = []
     # STATIC PREFIX: Files and Screenshots must go first to maximize Cache Hits
     if files:
diff --git a/tests/test_tiered_context.py b/tests/test_tiered_context.py
index c673095..630af1e 100644
--- a/tests/test_tiered_context.py
+++ b/tests/test_tiered_context.py
@@ -66,3 +66,44 @@ def test_build_tier3_context_exists():
     # Let's check for the header
     assert "other.py" in result
     assert "AST Skeleton" in result
+
+def test_build_file_items_with_tiers(tmp_path):
+    from aggregate import build_file_items
+    
+    # Create some dummy files
+    file1 = tmp_path / "file1.txt"
+    file1.write_text("content1")
+    file2 = tmp_path / "file2.txt"
+    file2.write_text("content2")
+    
+    files_config = [
+        "file1.txt",
+        {"path": "file2.txt", "tier": 3}
+    ]
+    
+    items = build_file_items(tmp_path, files_config)
+    
+    assert len(items) == 2
+    
+    item1 = next(i for i in items if i["entry"] == "file1.txt")
+    assert item1["content"] == "content1"
+    assert "tier" in item1
+    assert item1["tier"] is None
+    
+    item2 = next(i for i in items if i["entry"] == "file2.txt")
+    assert item2["content"] == "content2"
+    assert item2["tier"] == 3
+
+def test_build_files_section_with_dicts(tmp_path):
+    from aggregate import build_files_section
+    
+    file1 = tmp_path / "file1.txt"
+    file1.write_text("content1")
+    
+    files_config = [
+        {"path": str(file1)}
+    ]
+    
+    result = build_files_section(tmp_path, files_config)
+    assert "content1" in result
+    assert "file1.txt" in result