diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index b2333d5..ff31a64 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ edition = "2018"
 # See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
 
 [dependencies]
-colored = "2.0.0"
\ No newline at end of file
+colored = "2.0.0"
+gitignore = "1.0.7"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 8655505..e017e06 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 use std::fs;
 use std::env;
 use colored::Colorize;
+use gitignore;
 
 fn main() {
     let args: Vec<String> = env::args().collect();
-    if args.len() != 2 {
+    if args.len() <= 1{
         println!("{}", "ERR: Invalid number of arguments provided".red());
         return
     }
@@ -21,30 +22,50 @@ fn main() {
         return
     }
 
+    // TODO: find safer way to check for gitignore
+    let gi_exists = fs::metadata(args[1].to_owned() + "/.gitignore").is_ok();
+    if !gi_exists {
+        println!("{}", "WRN: .gitignore not found, may output TODOs in dependencies".yellow())
+    }
+
     let mut todos = vec!();
-    traverse_dir(&args[1], &mut todos).unwrap();
+
+    if gi_exists {
+        let gi_str = args[1].to_owned() + "/.gitignore";
+        let gi_path = std::path::Path::new(&gi_str);
+        let gi= gitignore::File::new(gi_path).unwrap();
+        traverse_dir(&args[1], &mut todos, Some(&gi)).unwrap();
+    } 
+    else {
+        traverse_dir(&args[1], &mut todos, None).unwrap();
+    }
+
     for todo in todos {
         println!("TODO: {}", todo.green());
     }
 }
 
-fn traverse_dir(path: &str, todos: &mut Vec<String>) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+fn traverse_dir(path: &str, todos: &mut Vec<String>, gi_option: Option<&gitignore::File>) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
     let objects = fs::read_dir(path.to_owned())?;
 
     for result in objects {
         let obj_path = result?.path();
         let obj_str = obj_path.to_str().unwrap();
         let obj_metadata = fs::metadata(obj_str)?;
-
-        if obj_metadata.is_dir() {
-            // println!("DIRC: {}", obj_str.yellow());
-            traverse_dir(obj_str, todos)?;
-        }
-        else if obj_metadata.is_file() {
-            if obj_str.ends_with(".py") {
-                // println!("FILE: {}", obj_str.yellow());
-                get_todos(obj_str, todos)?;
+        
+        let is_excluded = match gi_option {
+            Some(gi) => { 
+                let dir_path = std::path::Path::new(obj_str);
+                gi.is_excluded(dir_path).unwrap()
             }
+            None => { false }
+        };
+
+        if !is_excluded && obj_metadata.is_dir() {
+            traverse_dir(obj_str, todos, gi_option)?;
+        }
+        else if !is_excluded && obj_metadata.is_file() && obj_str.ends_with(".py") {
+            get_todos(obj_str, todos)?;
         }
     }