diff --git a/cmd/init.go b/cmd/init.go
index f90195f..d280648 100644
--- a/cmd/init.go
+++ b/cmd/init.go
@@ -81,6 +81,23 @@ func runInitCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
     if err != nil {
       log.Fatal(err)
     }
+
+    gitignoreContent := []byte (`
+      # ignore dotctl config for individual installations
+      dotctl/
+
+      .DS_Store
+      *.swp
+      *.bak
+      *.tmp
+    `)
+
+    err := afero.WriteFile(fs, filepath.Join(DotfilePath, ".gitignore"), gitignoreContent, 0644)
+
+    if err != nil {
+      log.Fatal(err)
+    }
+
   }
 
   fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Successfully created dotfiles repository at %s\n", DotfilePath)
diff --git a/cmd/sync.go b/cmd/sync.go
index 148f5df..88ce593 100644
--- a/cmd/sync.go
+++ b/cmd/sync.go
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ func gitAddFiles(worktree *git.Worktree, fs afero.Fs) error {
     return err
   }
   for _, entry := range(entries) {
+    if(entry.Name() == "dotctl") {
+      continue
+    }
     _, err = worktree.Add(entry.Name())
     if err != nil {
       return err