diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index 463c741dfc..8d185aa2d6 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ whitespace=     pass it through git-apply
 ignore-space-change pass it through git-apply
 ignore-whitespace pass it through git-apply
 directory=      pass it through git-apply
+exclude=        pass it through git-apply
 C=              pass it through git-apply
 p=              pass it through git-apply
 patch-format=   format the patch(es) are in
@@ -366,7 +367,7 @@ do
 		;;
 	--resolvemsg)
 		shift; resolvemsg=$1 ;;
-	--whitespace|--directory)
+	--whitespace|--directory|--exclude)
 		git_apply_opt="$git_apply_opt $(sq "$1=$2")"; shift ;;
 	-C|-p)
 		git_apply_opt="$git_apply_opt $(sq "$1$2")"; shift ;;