diff --git a/t/t4037-diff-r-t-dirs.sh b/t/t4037-diff-r-t-dirs.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..f5ce3b29a2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t4037-diff-r-t-dirs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+test_description='diff -r -t shows directory additions and deletions'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+test_expect_success setup '
+	mkdir dc dr dt &&
+	>dc/1 &&
+	>dr/2 &&
+	>dt/3 &&
+	>fc &&
+	>fr &&
+	>ft &&
+	git add . &&
+	test_tick &&
+	git commit -m initial &&
+
+	rm -fr dt dr ft fr &&
+	mkdir da ft &&
+	for p in dc/1 da/4 dt ft/5 fc
+	do
+		echo hello >$p || exit
+	done &&
+	git add -u &&
+	git add . &&
+	test_tick &&
+	git commit -m second
+'
+
+cat >expect <<\EOF
+A	da
+A	da/4
+M	dc
+M	dc/1
+D	dr
+D	dr/2
+A	dt
+D	dt
+D	dt/3
+M	fc
+D	fr
+D	ft
+A	ft
+A	ft/5
+EOF
+
+test_expect_success verify '
+	git diff-tree -r -t --name-status HEAD^ HEAD >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_done
diff --git a/tree-diff.c b/tree-diff.c
index 9f67af6c1fb..c83a8da3923 100644
--- a/tree-diff.c
+++ b/tree-diff.c
@@ -233,6 +233,12 @@ static void show_entry(struct diff_options *opt, const char *prefix, struct tree
 		if (!tree || type != OBJ_TREE)
 			die("corrupt tree sha %s", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 
+		if (DIFF_OPT_TST(opt, TREE_IN_RECURSIVE)) {
+			newbase[baselen + pathlen] = 0;
+			opt->add_remove(opt, *prefix, mode, sha1, newbase);
+			newbase[baselen + pathlen] = '/';
+		}
+
 		init_tree_desc(&inner, tree, size);
 		show_tree(opt, prefix, &inner, newbase, baselen + 1 + pathlen);