diff --git a/cumulus/src/plugins/alpha/block/iospecs.py b/cumulus/src/plugins/alpha/block/iospecs.py
index a934fa6b..c0043cc5 100644
--- a/cumulus/src/plugins/alpha/block/iospecs.py
+++ b/cumulus/src/plugins/alpha/block/iospecs.py
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ class IoPadSpec ( object ):
         self._id      = IoPadSpec.id
         IoPadSpec.id += 1
 
+    def setAnalog ( self ):
+        self.side |= IoPin.ANALOG
+
     def addNets ( self, nets ):
         self.nets += nets
 
@@ -116,11 +119,13 @@ class IoSpecs ( object ):
                 actual_side |= IoPin.A_END
             self.addIoPadSpec( padName, actual_side)
 
-    def loadFromPinmux ( self, fileName ):
+    def loadFromPinmux ( self, fileName , cheat_dont_do_analog=False):
         """
         Load ioPadsSpec from a LibreSOC generated pinmux file in JSON format.
+        The cheat_dont_do_analog is there, sigh, because nsxlib doesn't
+        have analog pads.  it's a terrible hack.
         """
-        print( '  o  Loading I/O pad specifications from "{}".'.format(fileName) )
+        print( '  o  Loading I/O pad specifications from "%s".' % fileName )
         if not os.path.isfile(fileName):
             raise ErrorMessage( 2, [ 'IoSpecs.loadFromPinmux(): '
                                      'JSON pinmux file not found.'
@@ -141,7 +146,12 @@ class IoSpecs ( object ):
                                       .format(padName) ))
                 continue
             end = None 
-            if padDatas[-1] in '+-*': end = -1
+            # remove the direction info: + output - input * bi-directional
+            if padDatas[-1][-1] in '+-*': end = -1
+            # check if pad is analog or not: last spec item starts with "A"
+            if padDatas[-1][0] == 'A' and not cheat_dont_do_analog:
+                self._ioPadsLUT[padName].setAnalog()
+            # add the nets to the pad
             self._ioPadsLUT[padName].addNets( padDatas[1:end] )
         trace( 560, '-' )