diff --git a/libisofs/image.h b/libisofs/image.h
index a0b79d8..b86aca1 100644
--- a/libisofs/image.h
+++ b/libisofs/image.h
@@ -77,8 +77,7 @@ struct Iso_Image
     int ignore_special;
 
     /**
-     * Files to exclude
-     * TODO add wildcard support
+     * Files to exclude. Wildcard support is included.
      */
     char** excludes;
     int nexcludes;
diff --git a/libisofs/libisofs.h b/libisofs/libisofs.h
index 72e0bea..04b57b2 100644
--- a/libisofs/libisofs.h
+++ b/libisofs/libisofs.h
@@ -1820,10 +1820,44 @@ int iso_tree_get_ignore_special(IsoImage *image);
  * 
  * For example, in
  * 
- * iso_tree_add_exclude(image, "/home/user/data/private");
- * iso_tree_add_dir_rec(image, root, "/home/user/data");
+ *   iso_tree_add_exclude(image, "/home/user/data/private");
+ *   iso_tree_add_dir_rec(image, root, "/home/user/data");
  * 
- * the directory /home/user/data/private won't be added to image.
+ * the directory /home/user/data/private won't be added to image. 
+ * 
+ * However, if you explicity add a deeper dir, it won't be excluded. i.e.,
+ * in the following example.
+ * 
+ *   iso_tree_add_exclude(image, "/home/user/data");
+ *   iso_tree_add_dir_rec(image, root, "/home/user/data/private");
+ * 
+ * the directory /home/user/data/private is added. On the other, side, and
+ * foollowing the the example above,
+ * 
+ *   iso_tree_add_dir_rec(image, root, "/home/user");
+ * 
+ * will exclude the directory "/home/user/data".
+ * 
+ * Absolute paths are not mandatory, you can, for example, add a relative
+ * path such as:
+ * 
+ *   iso_tree_add_exclude(image, "private");
+ *   iso_tree_add_exclude(image, "user/data");
+ * 
+ * to excluve, respectively, all files or dirs named private, and also all
+ * files or dirs named data that belong to a folder named "user". Not that the
+ * above rule about deeper dirs is still valid. i.e., if you call
+ * 
+ *   iso_tree_add_dir_rec(image, root, "/home/user/data/music");
+ * 
+ * it is included even containing "user/data" string. However, a possible
+ * "/home/user/data/music/user/data" is not added.
+ * 
+ * Usual wildcards, such as * or ? are also supported, with the usual meaning
+ * as stated in "man 7 glob". For example
+ * 
+ * // to exclude backup text files
+ * iso_tree_add_exclude(image, "*.~");
  * 
  * @return
  *      1 on success, < 0 on error
diff --git a/libisofs/tree.c b/libisofs/tree.c
index f8c4cc7..aba8683 100644
--- a/libisofs/tree.c
+++ b/libisofs/tree.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <time.h>
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <fnmatch.h>
 
 /**
  * Add a new directory to the iso tree.
@@ -479,9 +480,24 @@ static
 int check_excludes(IsoImage *image, const char *path)
 {
     int i;
+
     for (i = 0; i < image->nexcludes; ++i) {
-        if (strcmp(image->excludes[i], path) == 0) {
-            return 1;
+        char *exclude = image->excludes[i];
+        if (exclude[0] == '/') {
+            /* absolute exclude, must completely match path */
+            if (!fnmatch(exclude, path, FNM_PERIOD|FNM_FILE_NAME)) {
+                return 1;
+            }
+        } else {
+            /* relative exclude, it is enought if a part of the path matches */
+            char *pos = (char*)path;
+            while (pos != NULL) {
+                pos++;
+                if (!fnmatch(exclude, pos, FNM_PERIOD|FNM_FILE_NAME)) {
+                    return 1;
+                }
+                pos = strchr(pos, '/');
+            }
         }
     }
     return 0;