diff --git a/src/cq_cli/main.py b/src/cq_cli/main.py
index b7b58a0..4eb32c6 100755
--- a/src/cq_cli/main.py
+++ b/src/cq_cli/main.py
@@ -123,7 +123,11 @@ def get_script_from_infile(infile, outfile, errfile):
         script_str = infile
     else:
         with open(infile, "r") as file:
-            script_str = file.read()
+            # prepend an assignment for the __file__ variable so the model
+            # script knows its path and can potentially load resources relative
+            # to that path.
+            script_str = f"__file__ = '{os.path.abspath(infile)}'\n"
+            script_str += file.read()
 
     return script_str
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 6fb4779..047a0f3 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -291,21 +291,20 @@ def test_parameter_analysis():
 
     # Grab the JSON output from cq-cli
     jsn = json.loads(out.decode())
-
-    # Check to make sure the first parameter was handled properly
-    assert jsn[0]["type"] == "number"
-    assert jsn[0]["name"] == "width"
-    assert jsn[0]["initial"] == 1
-
-    # Check to make sure the second parameter was handled properly
-    assert jsn[1]["type"] == "string"
-    assert jsn[1]["name"] == "tag_name"
-    assert jsn[1]["initial"] == "cube"
-
-    # Check to make sure the third parameter was handled properly
-    assert jsn[2]["type"] == "boolean"
-    assert jsn[2]["name"] == "centered"
-    assert jsn[2]["initial"] == True
+    params_by_name = helpers.params_list_to_dict(jsn)
+
+    # Check to make sure the parameters were handled properly
+    assert params_by_name["width"] == {"name": "width", "type": "number", "initial": 1}
+    assert params_by_name["tag_name"] == {
+        "name": "tag_name",
+        "type": "string",
+        "initial": "cube",
+    }
+    assert params_by_name["centered"] == {
+        "name": "centered",
+        "type": "boolean",
+        "initial": True,
+    }
 
 
 def test_parameter_file_input_output():
@@ -348,10 +347,10 @@ def test_parameter_file_input_output():
     # Modify the parameters file
     with open(temp_file, "r") as file:
         json_str = file.read()
-    json_dict = json.loads(json_str)
-    json_dict[0]["initial"] = 10
+    json_list = json.loads(json_str)
+    json_list[1]["initial"] = 10
     with open(temp_file, "w") as file:
-        file.writelines(json.dumps(json_dict))
+        file.writelines(json.dumps(json_list))
 
     # Run the command with the new parameters
     command3 = [
@@ -414,10 +413,11 @@ def test_params_stl_output():
     # Make sure that the customizer.json file exists and has what we expect in it
     with open(customizer_file_path, "r") as file2:
         json_str = file2.read()
-    json_dict = json.loads(json_str)
-    assert json_dict[0]["initial"] == 1
-    assert json_dict[1]["initial"] == "cube"
-    assert json_dict[2]["initial"] == True
+    json_list = json.loads(json_str)
+    params = helpers.params_list_to_dict(json_list)
+    assert params["width"]["initial"] == 1
+    assert params["tag_name"]["initial"] == "cube"
+    assert params["centered"]["initial"] == True
 
     # Write an STL using the default parameters so that we can compare it to what was generated with customized parameters
     command = [
@@ -544,3 +544,27 @@ def test_multiple_outfiles():
     ]
     out, err, exitcode = helpers.cli_call(command)
     assert exitcode == 0
+
+
+def test_file_variable_is_set():
+    """
+    Tests that cq-cli sets the __file__ variable for the model script.
+    """
+    test_file = helpers.get_test_file_location("file_var.py")
+
+    temp_dir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+    out_path = os.path.join(temp_dir, "temp_test_file_variable.stl")
+
+    command = [
+        "python",
+        "src/cq_cli/main.py",
+        "--codec",
+        "stl",
+        "--infile",
+        test_file,
+        "--outfile",
+        out_path,
+    ]
+    out, err, exitcode = helpers.cli_call(command)
+    assert exitcode == 0
+    assert "__file__=" in out.decode()
diff --git a/tests/test_helpers.py b/tests/test_helpers.py
index 631aa04..f36e590 100644
--- a/tests/test_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/test_helpers.py
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@ def cli_call(command):
     """
     Makes the operating system process calls to test the CLI properly.
     """
-    proc = subprocess.Popen(command, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE,)
+    proc = subprocess.Popen(command, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
     out, err = proc.communicate()
     return out, err, proc.returncode
+
+
+def params_list_to_dict(param_list):
+    """
+    Converts a list of params into a dictionary of those params keyed by name.
+    """
+    d = {}
+    for entry in param_list:
+        d[entry["name"]] = entry
+    return d
diff --git a/tests/testdata/file_var.py b/tests/testdata/file_var.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0fef46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testdata/file_var.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import cadquery as cq
+
+# print info about the __file__ variable to stdout so the test can check it
+if "__file__" in locals():
+    print(f"__file__={__file__}")
+else:
+    print("__FILE__ not set")
+
+# render a simple shape so the cq-cli invocation succeeds
+b = cq.Workplane("XY").rect(10, 10).extrude(10)
+show_object(b)