diff --git a/src/Requires.jl b/src/Requires.jl
index 6fef3bf..8b9ae54 100644
--- a/src/Requires.jl
+++ b/src/Requires.jl
@@ -3,18 +3,27 @@ module Requires
 using UUIDs
 
 """
-    @include("file.jl")
+    @include("somefile.jl")
 
-Behaves like `include`, but loads the target file contents at load-time before
-evaluating its contents at runtime. This is useful when the target file may not
-be available at runtime (for example, because of compiling a sysimg).
+Behaves like `include`, but caches the target file content at macro expansion
+time, and uses this as a fallback when the file doesn't exist at runtime. This
+is useful when compiling a sysimg. The argument `"somefile.jl"` must be a
+string literal, not an expression.
 
 `@require` blocks insert this automatically when you use `include`.
 """
 macro include(file)
     file = joinpath(dirname(String(__source__.file)), file)
     s = String(read(file))
-    :(include_string($__module__, $s, $file))
+    quote
+        file = $file
+        mod = $__module__
+        if isfile(file)
+            Base.include(mod, file)
+        else
+            include_string(mod, $s, file)
+        end
+    end
 end
 
 include("init.jl")
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index d7d40d5..d0e0e8b 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ end
 
 @testset "Requires" begin
     mktempdir() do pkgsdir
+        local rm_CachedIncludeTest_submod_file
         cd(pkgsdir) do
             npcdir = joinpath("FooNPC", "src")
             mkpath(npcdir)
@@ -65,6 +66,14 @@ end
             cd(npcdir) do
                 writepkg("FooSubPC", true, true)
             end
+            npcdir = joinpath("CachedIncludeTest", "src")
+            mkpath(npcdir)
+            cd(npcdir) do
+                writepkg("CachedIncludeTest", true, true)
+                submod_file = abspath("CachedIncludeTest_submod.jl")
+                @test isfile(submod_file)
+                rm_CachedIncludeTest_submod_file = ()->rm(submod_file)
+            end
         end
         push!(LOAD_PATH, pkgsdir)
 
@@ -76,6 +85,12 @@ end
         @test !(:SubModule in names(FooSubNPC))
         @eval using FooSubPC
         @test !(:SubModule in names(FooSubPC))
+        @eval using CachedIncludeTest
+        # Test that the content of the file which defines
+        # CachedIncludeTest.SubModule is cached by `@require` so it can be used
+        # even when the file itself is removed.
+        rm_CachedIncludeTest_submod_file()
+        @test !(:SubModule in names(CachedIncludeTest))
 
         @eval using Colors
 
@@ -85,6 +100,7 @@ end
         @test FooSubNPC.SubModule.flag
         @test :SubModule in names(FooSubPC)
         @test FooSubPC.SubModule.flag
+        @test :SubModule in names(CachedIncludeTest)
 
         cd(pkgsdir) do
             npcdir = joinpath("FooAfterNPC", "src")