diff --git a/openmc/source.py b/openmc/source.py
index cc749c324f..8ede505810 100644
--- a/openmc/source.py
+++ b/openmc/source.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ class Source:
         Source file from which sites should be sampled
     library : str
         Path to a custom source library
+    serialization : str
+        Path to the serialized representation of the custom source
 
         .. versionadded:: 0.12
     strength : float
@@ -41,6 +43,8 @@ class Source:
         Source file from which sites should be sampled
     library : str or None
         Path to a custom source library
+    serialization : str
+        Path to the serialized representation of the custom source
     strength : float
         Strength of the source
     particle : {'neutron', 'photon'}
@@ -49,12 +53,13 @@ class Source:
     """
 
     def __init__(self, space=None, angle=None, energy=None, filename=None,
-                 library=None, strength=1.0, particle='neutron'):
+                 library=None, serialization=None, strength=1.0, particle='neutron'):
         self._space = None
         self._angle = None
         self._energy = None
         self._file = None
         self._library = None
+        self._serialization = None
 
         if space is not None:
             self.space = space
@@ -66,6 +71,8 @@ class Source:
             self.file = filename
         if library is not None:
             self.library = library
+        if serialization is not None:
+            self.serialization = serialization
         self.strength = strength
         self.particle = particle
 
@@ -77,6 +84,10 @@ class Source:
     def library(self):
         return self._library
 
+    @property
+    def serialization(self):
+        return self._serialization
+
     @property
     def space(self):
         return self._space
@@ -107,6 +118,11 @@ class Source:
         cv.check_type('library', library_name, str)
         self._library = library_name
 
+    @serialization.setter
+    def serialization(self, serialization_path):
+        cv.check_type('serialization', serialization_path, str)
+        self._serialization = serialization_path
+
     @space.setter
     def space(self, space):
         cv.check_type('spatial distribution', space, Spatial)
@@ -150,6 +166,8 @@ class Source:
             element.set("file", self.file)
         if self.library is not None:
             element.set("library", self.library)
+        if self.serialization is not None:
+            element.set("serialization", self.serialization)
         if self.space is not None:
             element.append(self.space.to_xml_element())
         if self.angle is not None:
@@ -191,6 +209,10 @@ class Source:
         if library is not None:
             source.library = library
 
+        serialization = get_text(elem, 'serialization')
+        if serialization is not None:
+            source.serialization = serialization
+
         space = elem.find('space')
         if space is not None:
             source.space = Spatial.from_xml_element(space)