diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParser.java b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParser.java
index 913cf8b194..7782c969a8 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParser.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParser.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2008 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2009 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ public class FileInboundChannelAdapterParser extends AbstractPollingInboundChann
 	protected String parseSource(Element element, ParserContext parserContext) {
 		BeanDefinitionBuilder builder = BeanDefinitionBuilder.genericBeanDefinition(
 				PACKAGE_NAME + ".FileReadingMessageSource");
+		String comparator = element.getAttribute("comparator");
+		if (StringUtils.hasText(comparator)) {
+			builder.addConstructorArgReference(comparator);
+		}
 		String directory = element.getAttribute("directory");
 		if (StringUtils.hasText(directory)) {
 			if (directory.indexOf(':') == -1) {
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/spring-integration-file-1.0.xsd b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/spring-integration-file-1.0.xsd
index 074d38b10b..0df1483d47 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/spring-integration-file-1.0.xsd
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/spring-integration-file-1.0.xsd
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
 	<xsd:element name="inbound-channel-adapter">
 		<xsd:annotation>
 			<xsd:documentation>
-	Configures an inbound Channel Adapter that polls a directory.
+	Configures an inbound Channel Adapter that polls a directory and sends
+	Messages whose payloads are instances of java.io.File.
 			</xsd:documentation>
 		</xsd:annotation>
 		<xsd:complexType>
@@ -39,6 +40,14 @@
 				</xsd:annotation>
 			</xsd:attribute>
 			<xsd:attribute name="directory" type="xsd:string" use="required"/>
+			<xsd:attribute name="comparator" type="xsd:string">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	Specify a Comparator to be used when ordering Files. If none is provided, the
+	order will be determined by the java.io.File implementation of Comparable.
+					]]></xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
+			</xsd:attribute>
 			<xsd:attribute name="filter" type="xsd:string">
 				<xsd:annotation>
 					<xsd:appinfo>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests-context.xml b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests-context.xml
index fbb64ade63..58af32caec 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests-context.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests-context.xml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 	<inbound-channel-adapter id="inputDirPoller"
 			directory="file:${java.io.tmpdir}"
 			filter="filter"
+			comparator="testComparator"
 			auto-startup="false">
 		<integration:poller>
 			<integration:interval-trigger interval="5000"/>
@@ -27,4 +28,7 @@
 
 	<beans:bean class="org.springframework.beans.factory.config.PropertyPlaceholderConfigurer" />
 
+	<beans:bean id="testComparator"
+		class="org.springframework.integration.file.config.FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests$TestComparator"/>
+
 </beans:beans>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests.java b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests.java
index eabbfa0827..5dd72c685f 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.file/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/file/config/FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests.java
@@ -17,13 +17,17 @@
 package org.springframework.integration.file.config;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertSame;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.util.Comparator;
+import java.util.concurrent.PriorityBlockingQueue;
 
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+
 import org.springframework.beans.DirectFieldAccessor;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
 import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;
@@ -42,15 +46,16 @@ import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner;
 public class FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests {
 
 	@Autowired(required=true)
-	ApplicationContext context;
+	private ApplicationContext context;
 
 	@Autowired(required=true)
-	FileReadingMessageSource source;
+	private FileReadingMessageSource source;
 
-	DirectFieldAccessor accessor;
+	private DirectFieldAccessor accessor;
 
 
-	@Before public void init() {
+	@Before
+	public void init() {
 		accessor = new DirectFieldAccessor(source);
 	}
 
@@ -67,10 +72,28 @@ public class FileInboundChannelAdapterParserTests {
 		File actual = (File) accessor.getPropertyValue("inputDirectory");
 		assertEquals("'inputDirectory' should be set", expected, actual);
 	}
-	
+
 	@Test
 	public void filter() throws Exception {
 		assertTrue("'filter' should be set", accessor.getPropertyValue("filter") instanceof CompositeFileListFilter);
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void comparator() throws Exception {
+		Object priorityQueue = accessor.getPropertyValue("toBeReceived");
+		assertEquals(PriorityBlockingQueue.class, priorityQueue.getClass());
+		Object expected = context.getBean("testComparator");
+		Object innerQueue = new DirectFieldAccessor(priorityQueue).getPropertyValue("q");
+		Object actual = new DirectFieldAccessor(innerQueue).getPropertyValue("comparator");
+		assertSame("comparator reference not set, ", expected, actual);
+	}
+
+
+	static class TestComparator implements Comparator<File> {
+
+		public int compare(File f1, File f2) {
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
 }