diff --git a/lib/orogen/gen/typekit.rb b/lib/orogen/gen/typekit.rb
index 89dee5fa..9e3c496a 100644
--- a/lib/orogen/gen/typekit.rb
+++ b/lib/orogen/gen/typekit.rb
@@ -629,6 +629,8 @@ def includes_dir
             attr_accessor :include_dirs
             # The array of includes that have been loaded
             attr_reader :included_files
+            # The hash containing the defines for this typekit
+            attr_reader :defines
 
             # The three possible type export policies. See #type_export_policy
             # and #export_types
@@ -840,6 +842,7 @@ def initialize(project = nil)
 
                 @include_dirs = Set.new
                 @included_files = Array.new
+                @defines = Hash.new
 
                 @plugins = []
                 plugins << (TypekitMarshallers::TypeInfo::Plugin.new(self))
@@ -2254,6 +2257,28 @@ def cxx_gen_includes(*includes)
                     "#include <#{inc}>"
                 end.sort.join("\n") + "\n"
             end
+
+            # Adds a define to the typekit that permits to
+            # add conditionals in user code sections
+            # @param [String] key Name of the define
+            # @param [Object] value Value of the define
+            # @param [Bool] override True when existing values should
+            #                 be overriden false otherwise
+            def define(key,value, override: false)
+                if @defines.has_key?(key)
+                    existing_value = @defines[key]
+                    if existing_value != value
+                        if override
+                            @defines[key] = value
+                        else
+                            raise "cannot redefine #{key} to #{value} - existing
+                            value is: '#{existing_value}'"
+                        end
+                    end
+                else
+                    @defines[key] = value
+                end
+            end
         end
     end
     end
diff --git a/lib/orogen/templates/typekit/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/orogen/templates/typekit/CMakeLists.txt
index 81499d60..ba2a9fa0 100644
--- a/lib/orogen/templates/typekit/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/orogen/templates/typekit/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -80,7 +80,14 @@ include_directories(BEFORE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/typekit)
 # Now set up the dependencies
 <%= typekit_deps = typekit.dependencies
     Generation.cmake_pkgconfig_require(typekit_deps) %>
-set(PKG_CFLAGS ${OrocosRTT_CFLAGS})
+
+<% typekit.defines.each do |key, value| %>
+set(PKG_CFLAGS ${PKG_CFLAGS} <%= "\"-D#{key}=#{value}\"" %>)
+<% end %>
+if(PKG_CFLAGS)
+    add_definitions(${PKG_CFLAGS})
+endif(PKG_CFLAGS)
+set(PKG_CFLAGS ${PKG_CFLAGS} ${OrocosRTT_CFLAGS})
 <%  typekit_deps.each do |dep_def|
         if dep_def.in_context?('core', 'include') %>
 set(PKG_CFLAGS ${PKG_CFLAGS} ${<%= dep_def.var_name %>_CFLAGS})
diff --git a/test/gen/test_typekit.rb b/test/gen/test_typekit.rb
index 60e43767..27460c48 100644
--- a/test/gen/test_typekit.rb
+++ b/test/gen/test_typekit.rb
@@ -222,6 +222,18 @@ def test_parse_typelist_type_with_spaces_in_name_not_exported
         assert_equal ['/unsigned int'], typelist
         assert_equal [], interface_typelist
     end
+    def test_defines
+        typekit = OroGen::Gen::RTT_CPP::Typekit.new
+        assert_equal typekit.defines, Hash.new
+        typekit.define("TEST",2)
+        assert_equal typekit.defines, {"TEST"=>2}
+
+        assert_raises(Exception) do
+            typekit.define("TEST",3)
+        end
+        typekit.define("TEST","new_value", override: true)
+        assert_equal typekit.defines, {"TEST"=>"new_value"}
+    end
 end