diff --git a/pre_commit/clientlib.py b/pre_commit/clientlib.py
index 14a22b99..c4768ff3 100644
--- a/pre_commit/clientlib.py
+++ b/pre_commit/clientlib.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ from pre_commit.util import parse_version
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('pre_commit')
 
+check_string_regex = cfgv.check_and(cfgv.check_string, cfgv.check_regex)
+
 
 def check_type_tag(tag):
     if tag not in ALL_TAGS:
@@ -53,12 +55,8 @@ MANIFEST_HOOK_DICT = cfgv.Map(
     cfgv.Required('language', cfgv.check_one_of(all_languages)),
     cfgv.Optional('alias', cfgv.check_string, ''),
 
-    cfgv.Optional(
-        'files', cfgv.check_and(cfgv.check_string, cfgv.check_regex), '',
-    ),
-    cfgv.Optional(
-        'exclude', cfgv.check_and(cfgv.check_string, cfgv.check_regex), '^$',
-    ),
+    cfgv.Optional('files', check_string_regex, ''),
+    cfgv.Optional('exclude', check_string_regex, '^$'),
     cfgv.Optional('types', cfgv.check_array(check_type_tag), ['file']),
     cfgv.Optional('exclude_types', cfgv.check_array(check_type_tag), []),
 
@@ -260,7 +258,8 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cfgv.Map(
         cfgv.check_array(cfgv.check_one_of(C.STAGES)),
         C.STAGES,
     ),
-    cfgv.Optional('exclude', cfgv.check_regex, '^$'),
+    cfgv.Optional('files', check_string_regex, ''),
+    cfgv.Optional('exclude', check_string_regex, '^$'),
     cfgv.Optional('fail_fast', cfgv.check_bool, False),
     cfgv.Optional(
         'minimum_pre_commit_version',
@@ -272,6 +271,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cfgv.Map(
             'repos',
             'default_language_version',
             'default_stages',
+            'files',
             'exclude',
             'fail_fast',
             'minimum_pre_commit_version',
diff --git a/pre_commit/commands/run.py b/pre_commit/commands/run.py
index 0b1f7b7e..f5a5b1e6 100644
--- a/pre_commit/commands/run.py
+++ b/pre_commit/commands/run.py
@@ -206,7 +206,9 @@ def _run_hooks(config, hooks, args, environ):
     skips = _get_skips(environ)
     cols = _compute_cols(hooks, args.verbose)
     filenames = _all_filenames(args)
-    filenames = filter_by_include_exclude(filenames, '', config['exclude'])
+    filenames = filter_by_include_exclude(
+        filenames, config['files'], config['exclude'],
+    )
     classifier = Classifier(filenames)
     retval = 0
     for hook in hooks:
diff --git a/tests/commands/run_test.py b/tests/commands/run_test.py
index 4221134b..63d09254 100644
--- a/tests/commands/run_test.py
+++ b/tests/commands/run_test.py
@@ -180,6 +180,22 @@ def test_global_exclude(cap_out, store, tempdir_factory):
         assert printed.endswith(expected)
 
 
+def test_global_files(cap_out, store, tempdir_factory):
+    git_path = make_consuming_repo(tempdir_factory, 'script_hooks_repo')
+    with cwd(git_path):
+        with modify_config() as config:
+            config['files'] = '^bar.py$'
+        open('foo.py', 'a').close()
+        open('bar.py', 'a').close()
+        cmd_output('git', 'add', '.')
+        opts = run_opts(verbose=True)
+        ret, printed = _do_run(cap_out, store, git_path, opts)
+        assert ret == 0
+        # Does not contain foo.py since it was not included
+        expected = b'hookid: bash_hook\n\nbar.py\nHello World\n\n'
+        assert printed.endswith(expected)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ('args', 'expected_out'),
     [