diff --git a/docs/differences/Directories.md b/docs/differences/Directories.md
deleted file mode 100644
index f76c9c6..0000000
--- a/docs/differences/Directories.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-Directories
-===
-
-deterministic-zip DOES NOT include empty folders, like zip does.
-
-Because the tool is intended to be used mainly for building its simply not necessary to include this feature. 
-
-This also reduces complexity and risk.
-
-If you feel like this should be implemented, please create a issue.
diff --git a/pkg/cli/configuration.go b/pkg/cli/configuration.go
index 32f24f9..4cd35cf 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/configuration.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/configuration.go
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ type Configuration struct {
 	// Recursive includes all child folders automatically
 	Recursive bool
 
+	// Directories includes directory entries in the zip file
+	Directories bool
+
 	// Exclude file patterns from the archive
 	Exclude []string
 
@@ -59,6 +62,7 @@ func (conf *Configuration) addStringFlag(field *string, long string, short strin
 
 func (conf *Configuration) defineFlags() {
 	conf.addBoolFlag(&conf.Verbose, "verbose", "v", false, "Verbose mode or print diagnostic version info.")
+	conf.addBoolFlag(&conf.Directories, "directories", "D", false, "Include directories in the zip file.")
 	conf.addBoolFlag(&conf.Recursive, "recurse-paths", "r", false, "Include all files verbose")
 	conf.addBoolFlag(&conf.Quiet, "quiet", "q", false, "Quiet mode; eliminate informational messages")
 	conf.addStringsFlag(&conf.Exclude, "exclude", "x", []string{}, "Exclude specific file patterns")
diff --git a/pkg/features/conditions/contains_key.go b/pkg/features/conditions/contains_key.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d8e3ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/features/conditions/contains_key.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+package conditions
+
+func ContainsKey(haystack *map[string]string, needle string) bool {
+	if _, ok := (*haystack)[needle]; ok {
+		return ok
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/pkg/features/conditions/contains_key_test.go b/pkg/features/conditions/contains_key_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c5aa32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/features/conditions/contains_key_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package conditions
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestContainsKey(t *testing.T) {
+	val := map[string]string{
+		"zzzzz":   "zzzzz",
+		"element": "element",
+	}
+
+	if !ContainsKey(&val, "element") {
+		t.Fatal("Contains check not working")
+	}
+	if ContainsKey(&val, "missing element") {
+		t.Fatal("Contains check found element not in the slice")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/features/fileset/directories.go b/pkg/features/fileset/directories.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0f0046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/features/fileset/directories.go
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package fileset
+
+import (
+	"github.com/timo-reymann/deterministic-zip/pkg/cli"
+	"github.com/timo-reymann/deterministic-zip/pkg/features/conditions"
+	"github.com/timo-reymann/deterministic-zip/pkg/file"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+)
+
+// Directories adds all children folders recursively
+type Directories struct{}
+
+// DebugName prints the debuggable name
+func (r Directories) DebugName() string {
+	return "Directories"
+}
+
+// IsEnabled checks if recursive adding was requested
+func (r Directories) IsEnabled(c *cli.Configuration) bool {
+	return conditions.OnFlag(c.Directories)
+}
+
+// Execute and read all directories recursively and add them back to source files
+func (r Directories) Execute(c *cli.Configuration) error {
+	files := make(map[string]string, 0)
+	sort.Strings(c.SourceFiles)
+
+	for _, f := range c.SourceFiles {
+		isDir, err := file.IsDir(f)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		cf := filepath.Clean(f)
+		if cf != "." {
+			if isDir {
+				cf += string(os.PathSeparator)
+			}
+			files[cf] = f
+		}
+		includeParentDirs(&files, f)
+	}
+
+	c.SourceFiles = sortedKeySlice(&files)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func includeParentDirs(m *map[string]string, path string) {
+	parent := filepath.Dir(path)
+
+	for parent != "." {
+		if !conditions.ContainsKey(m, parent) {
+			suffixed := parent + string(os.PathSeparator)
+			(*m)[suffixed] = parent
+		}
+		parent = filepath.Dir(parent)
+	}
+}
+
+func sortedKeySlice(m *map[string]string) []string {
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(*m))
+	for k := range *m {
+		keys = append(keys, k)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+	return keys
+}
diff --git a/pkg/features/fileset/directories_test.go b/pkg/features/fileset/directories_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1519ffc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/features/fileset/directories_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+package fileset
+
+import (
+	"github.com/timo-reymann/deterministic-zip/pkg/cli"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestDirectories_IsEnabled(t *testing.T) {
+	c := cli.Configuration{Directories: true}
+	directories := Directories{}
+	if !directories.IsEnabled(&c) {
+		t.Fatal("Execution for directories fallback not working")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDirectories_Execute(t *testing.T) {
+	directories := Directories{}
+	testCases := []struct {
+		sources      []string
+		err          *error
+		sourcesAfter []string
+	}{
+		{
+			sources: []string{
+				"testdata/recursive",
+			},
+			err: nil,
+			sourcesAfter: []string{
+				"testdata/",
+				"testdata/recursive/",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			sources: []string{
+				"testdata/recursive/folder/file.txt",
+			},
+			err: nil,
+			sourcesAfter: []string{
+				"testdata/",
+				"testdata/recursive/",
+				"testdata/recursive/folder/",
+				"testdata/recursive/folder/file.txt",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			sources: []string{
+				"testdata/recursive/folder/subfolder/",
+			},
+			err: nil,
+			sourcesAfter: []string{
+				"testdata/",
+				"testdata/recursive/",
+				"testdata/recursive/folder/",
+				"testdata/recursive/folder/subfolder/",
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			sources: []string{
+				"nonExistent",
+			},
+			err:          mockErr("stat nonExistent: no such file or directory"),
+			sourcesAfter: []string{},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		c := cli.Configuration{
+			Directories: true,
+			SourceFiles: tc.sources,
+		}
+		err := directories.Execute(&c)
+		if tc.err == nil && err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Expected no error but got %v", err)
+		} else if err != nil {
+			if (*tc.err).Error() != err.Error() {
+				t.Fatalf("Expected error %v, but got %v", *tc.err, err)
+			} else {
+				// Skip checking -> error thrown
+				continue
+			}
+		}
+
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(tc.sourcesAfter, c.SourceFiles) {
+			t.Fatalf("Expected %v, but got %v", tc.sourcesAfter, c.SourceFiles)
+		}
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/pkg/features/main.go b/pkg/features/main.go
index aab62a2..a6428ec 100644
--- a/pkg/features/main.go
+++ b/pkg/features/main.go
@@ -40,4 +40,6 @@ func init() {
 	register(fileset.Recursive{})
 	register(filter.Exclude{})
 	register(filter.Include{})
+	// Directories must always be processed after the Recursive, Exclude, Include modules
+	register(fileset.Directories{})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/zip/main.go b/pkg/zip/main.go
index b7d1c74..074ab70 100644
--- a/pkg/zip/main.go
+++ b/pkg/zip/main.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"archive/zip"
 	"compress/flate"
 	"github.com/timo-reymann/deterministic-zip/pkg/cli"
+	"github.com/timo-reymann/deterministic-zip/pkg/features/conditions"
 	"github.com/timo-reymann/deterministic-zip/pkg/output"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ func Create(c *cli.Configuration, compression uint16) error {
 	registerCompressors(zipWriter)
 
 	for _, srcFile := range c.SourceFiles {
-		if err := appendFile(srcFile, zipWriter, compression); err != nil {
+		if err := appendFile(srcFile, zipWriter, compression, conditions.OnFlag(c.Directories)); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -56,10 +57,17 @@ func registerCompressors(zipWriter *zip.Writer) {
 	})
 }
 
-func appendFile(srcFile string, zipWriter *zip.Writer, compression uint16) error {
+func appendFile(srcFile string, zipWriter *zip.Writer, compression uint16, includeDirs bool) error {
 	output.Infof("Adding file %s", srcFile)
 
 	f, err := os.Open(srcFile)
+	// Ensure the open file is always closed, ignoring any errors during the close
+	defer func(f *os.File) {
+		if f != nil {
+			_ = f.Close()
+		}
+	}(f)
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -69,8 +77,7 @@ func appendFile(srcFile string, zipWriter *zip.Writer, compression uint16) error
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Directories are currently not supported.
-	if stat.IsDir() {
+	if !includeDirs && stat.IsDir() {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -83,6 +90,13 @@ func appendFile(srcFile string, zipWriter *zip.Writer, compression uint16) error
 	h.Name = srcFile
 	h.Extra = extra
 
+	// If dealing with a directory, we must ensure the h.Name field ends with a `/`
+	if stat.IsDir() {
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(h.Name, "/") {
+			h.Name += "/"
+		}
+	}
+
 	fw, err := zipWriter.CreateHeader(h)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -93,7 +107,8 @@ func appendFile(srcFile string, zipWriter *zip.Writer, compression uint16) error
 			return err
 		}
 	}
-	zipWriter.Flush()
+	// explicitly ignore any errors during the flush
+	_ = zipWriter.Flush()
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/zip/main_test.go b/pkg/zip/main_test.go
index 561ef44..67983f8 100644
--- a/pkg/zip/main_test.go
+++ b/pkg/zip/main_test.go
@@ -54,13 +54,18 @@ func TestCreate(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			config: cli.Configuration{
+				Directories: true,
 				SourceFiles: []string{
 					"testdata/folder",
 				},
 			},
-			sha256:      "8739c76e681f900923b900c9df0ef75cf421d39cabb54650c4b9ad19b6a76d85",
+			sha256:      "7839c2a3939b278e9b24e02621e6bdb07f4c32f79e111661ee9948f7516009c3",
 			compression: zip.Store,
-			zipFiles:    []expectedFile{},
+			zipFiles: []expectedFile{
+				{
+					name: "testdata/folder/",
+				},
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			config: cli.Configuration{
@@ -114,6 +119,33 @@ func TestCreate(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			config: cli.Configuration{
+				Directories: true,
+				SourceFiles: []string{
+					"testdata",
+					"testdata/file.txt",
+					"testdata/folder",
+					"testdata/folder/file.txt",
+				},
+			},
+			sha256:      "e2431c807ee3f202e84f66ed3756ae736eb890916cf1737420708bed2181c5e0",
+			compression: zip.Store,
+			zipFiles: []expectedFile{
+				{
+					name: "testdata/",
+				},
+				{
+					name: "testdata/file.txt",
+				},
+				{
+					name: "testdata/folder/",
+				},
+				{
+					name: "testdata/folder/file.txt",
+				},
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			config: cli.Configuration{
 				SourceFiles: []string{
@@ -134,6 +166,33 @@ func TestCreate(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			config: cli.Configuration{
+				Directories: true,
+				SourceFiles: []string{
+					"testdata",
+					"testdata/file.txt",
+					"testdata/folder",
+					"testdata/folder/file.txt",
+				},
+			},
+			sha256:      "9501f16697415f9de62aab8e28925111abfac435842b455ea1bd36852a5b6adc",
+			compression: zip.Deflate,
+			zipFiles: []expectedFile{
+				{
+					name: "testdata/",
+				},
+				{
+					name: "testdata/file.txt",
+				},
+				{
+					name: "testdata/folder/",
+				},
+				{
+					name: "testdata/folder/file.txt",
+				},
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			config: cli.Configuration{
 				SourceFiles: []string{