diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 57e0ca9..9bd934a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ TEST_RULES=test/rules
 TEST_DOTFILES=test/dotfiles
 TEST_DEST_DIR=test/dest
 TEST_EXPECTED_DIR=test/expected
+TEST_IGNORE_ARG=--ignore ignored_file
 
 DIFF_FLAGS=-qNr
 
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ $(EXECFILE): release
 test: $(EXECFILE)
 	rm -rf $(TEST_DEST_DIR)
 	mkdir $(TEST_DEST_DIR)
-	./$(EXECFILE) $(TEST_RULES) $(TEST_DOTFILES) $(TEST_DEST_DIR); \
+	./$(EXECFILE) $(TEST_RULES) $(TEST_DOTFILES) $(TEST_DEST_DIR) $(TEST_IGNORE_ARG); \
 	diff $(DIFF_FLAGS) $(TEST_DEST_DIR) $(TEST_EXPECTED_DIR)
 	if [ ! -x "$(TEST_DEST_DIR)/binary_file" ]; then \
 		@echo "Expected binary_file to be executable."; \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4a1650d..6319fca 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ dot-templater --diff CONFIG SRC_DIR DEST_DIR
 
 Compares files from `SRC_DIR` modified according to rules in `CONFIG` against the contents of `DEST_DIR`.
 
+### Parameters
+* `-i <file> [...files]` or `--ignore <file> [...files]`  
+  Excludes a file or directory (and all children) from templating, ie. they will not be copied to the destination directory.
+  For example, use `-i .git` for git controlled dotfile repositories.
+
 ### Config Format
 Any line beginning with `#` is ignored. Config file can contain key/value substitutions and feature flags.
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index e3122be..97940fe 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ pub struct Arguments<'a> {
     pub source: &'a str,
     pub dest: &'a str,
     pub diff: Mode,
+    pub ignore: Vec<&'a str>,
 }
 
 impl<'a> Arguments<'a> {
@@ -159,12 +160,17 @@ impl<'a> Arguments<'a> {
 
         source = Self::trim_trailing_slash(&source);
         dest = Self::trim_trailing_slash(&dest);
+        let ignore = match args.values_of("ignore") {
+            Some(value) => value.collect(),
+            None => vec![],
+        };
 
         Self {
             rules,
             source,
             dest,
             diff,
+            ignore,
         }
     }
 
@@ -236,8 +242,13 @@ pub fn template(
     source_dir: &str,
     dest_dir: &str,
     mode: Mode,
+    ignore: Vec<&str>,
 ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
-    for entry in WalkDir::new(source_dir) {
+    for entry in WalkDir::new(source_dir).into_iter().filter_entry(|entry| {
+        let ignore_list: Vec<&Path> = ignore.iter().map(|fname| Path::new(fname)).collect();
+
+        !ignore_list.contains(&entry.path().strip_prefix(&source_dir).unwrap())
+    }) {
         let source_file = entry?;
         let source_file = source_file.path();
         let dest_file = source_file.to_str().unwrap().replace(source_dir, dest_dir);
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 45eca13..1902982 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ fn main() {
                 .long("diff")
                 .help("Diff mode"),
         )
+        .arg(
+            Arg::with_name("ignore")
+                .short("i")
+                .long("ignore")
+                .help("Ignore file")
+                .multiple(true)
+                .min_values(0)
+                .takes_value(true),
+        )
         .after_help(concat!(
             "Copy files from SRC_DIR to DEST_DIR using rules defined in CONFIG.\n\n",
             "Rules configuration:\n",
@@ -65,8 +74,9 @@ fn main() {
         process::exit(1);
     });
 
-    dot_templater::template(&config, &args.source, &args.dest, args.diff).unwrap_or_else(|err| {
-        eprintln!("Error while performing templating: {}", err);
-        process::exit(1);
-    });
+    dot_templater::template(&config, &args.source, &args.dest, args.diff, args.ignore)
+        .unwrap_or_else(|err| {
+            eprintln!("Error while performing templating: {}", err);
+            process::exit(1);
+        });
 }
diff --git a/test/dotfiles/ignored_file b/test/dotfiles/ignored_file
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c439d50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/dotfiles/ignored_file
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+I am ignored
\ No newline at end of file