diff --git a/chkbit/context.py b/chkbit/context.py
index e5bb3ce..607ab73 100644
--- a/chkbit/context.py
+++ b/chkbit/context.py
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ import hashlib
 
 
 class Context:
-    def __init__(self, verify_index, update, force, hash_algo):
+    def __init__(self, verify_index, update, force, hash_algo, skip_symlinks):
 
         self.verify_index = verify_index
         self.update = update
         self.force = force
         self.hash_algo = hash_algo
+        self.skip_symlinks = skip_symlinks
 
         if hash_algo not in ["md5", "sha512"]:
             raise Exception(f"{hash_algo} is unknown.")
diff --git a/chkbit/indexthread.py b/chkbit/indexthread.py
index ce946bb..b55ce69 100644
--- a/chkbit/indexthread.py
+++ b/chkbit/indexthread.py
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ class IndexThread:
             if name[0] == ".":
                 continue
             if os.path.isdir(path):
-                dirs.append(name)
+                if self.context.skip_symlinks and os.path.islink(path):
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    dirs.append(name)
             elif os.path.isfile(path):
                 files.append(name)
 
diff --git a/chkbit/main.py b/chkbit/main.py
index 96afc9b..0274e8e 100644
--- a/chkbit/main.py
+++ b/chkbit/main.py
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ class Main:
             help="verify files in the index only (will not report new files)",
         )
 
+        parser.add_argument(
+            "-s", "--skip-symlinks", action="store_true", help="do not follow symlinks"
+        )
+
         parser.add_argument(
             "-w",
             "--workers",
@@ -133,6 +137,7 @@ class Main:
             self.args.update,
             self.args.force,
             self.args.algo,
+            self.args.skip_symlinks
         )
 
         # start indexing