diff --git a/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py b/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py
index 78c74ca6ec3..0a0db2f02ac 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py
+++ b/scripts/lib/checklayer/__init__.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class LayerType(Enum):
     BSP = 0
     DISTRO = 1
     SOFTWARE = 2
+    CORE = 3
     ERROR_NO_LAYER_CONF = 98
     ERROR_BSP_DISTRO = 99
 
@@ -106,7 +107,13 @@ def _detect_layer(layer_path):
         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 @@ def _detect_layer(layer_path):
     else:
         layer['type'] = LayerType.SOFTWARE
 
-    layer['collections'] = _get_layer_collections(layer['path'])
-
     return layer
 
 def detect_layers(layer_directories, no_auto):
diff --git a/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py b/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py
index a80a5844da6..b76163fb56d 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py
+++ b/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/bsp.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from checklayer.case import OECheckLayerTestCase
 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/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py b/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py
index 491a13953c8..722d3cf6383 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py
+++ b/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/common.py
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ from checklayer.case import OECheckLayerTestCase
 
 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/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py b/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py
index f0bee5493c2..a35332451c7 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py
+++ b/scripts/lib/checklayer/cases/distro.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from checklayer.case import OECheckLayerTestCase
 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'])
 
diff --git a/scripts/yocto-check-layer b/scripts/yocto-check-layer
index 0e5b75b1f7d..67cc71950ff 100755
--- a/scripts/yocto-check-layer
+++ b/scripts/yocto-check-layer
@@ -168,14 +168,13 @@ def main():
 
     layers_tested = 0
     for layer in layers:
-        if layer['type'] == LayerType.ERROR_NO_LAYER_CONF or \
-                layer['type'] == LayerType.ERROR_BSP_DISTRO:
+        if layer['type'] in (LayerType.ERROR_NO_LAYER_CONF, LayerType.ERROR_BSP_DISTRO):
             continue
 
         # Reset to a clean backup copy for each run
         shutil.copyfile(bblayersconf + '.backup', bblayersconf)
 
-        if check_bblayers(bblayersconf, layer['path'], logger):
+        if layer['type'] not in (LayerType.CORE, ) and check_bblayers(bblayersconf, layer['path'], logger):
             logger.info("%s already in %s. To capture initial signatures, layer under test should not present "
                "in BBLAYERS. Please remove %s from BBLAYERS." % (layer['name'], bblayersconf, layer['name']))
             results[layer['name']] = None