diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index d98f134..d6d169a 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ var flatten = function(options) {
         key = json.name + '@' + json.version,
         colorize = options.color,
         unknown = options.unknown,
+        readmeFile,
         licenseData, files = [], licenseFile;
 
     /*istanbul ignore next*/
@@ -97,6 +98,14 @@ var flatten = function(options) {
     }
 
     licenseData = json.license || json.licenses || undefined;
+
+    if (json.path && (!json.readme || json.readme.toLowerCase().indexOf('no readme data found') > -1)) {
+        readmeFile = path.join(json.path, 'README.md');
+        if (fs.existsSync(readmeFile)) {
+            json.readme = fs.readFileSync(readmeFile, 'utf8').toString();
+        }
+    }
+
     if (licenseData) {
         /*istanbul ignore else*/
         if (Array.isArray(licenseData) && licenseData.length > 0) {