diff --git a/builtin-add.c b/builtin-add.c
index 822075ac22..c54c694532 100644
--- a/builtin-add.c
+++ b/builtin-add.c
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ static void prune_directory(struct dir_struct *dir, const char **pathspec, int p
 			free(entry);
 			continue;
 		}
+		if (entry->ignored_entry)
+			fprintf(stderr, "warning: '%s' is an ignored path.\n",
+				entry->name);
 		*dst++ = entry;
 	}
 	dir->nr = dst - dir->entries;