diff --git a/man/systemd.unit.xml b/man/systemd.unit.xml
index d434434e62..3d4707cb2c 100644
--- a/man/systemd.unit.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.unit.xml
@@ -277,6 +277,10 @@
     effective way to fully disable a unit, making it impossible to
     start it even manually.</para>
 
+    <para>Files (including directories) with names that match certain patterns are
+    generally ignored. This includes names that start with a <literal>.</literal> or
+    end with a <literal>.ignore</literal>.</para>
+
     <para>The unit file format is covered by the
     <ulink url="https://systemd.io/PORTABILITY_AND_STABILITY/">Interface
     Portability and Stability Promise</ulink>.</para>
diff --git a/src/basic/path-util.c b/src/basic/path-util.c
index 0972dd8de0..7d11467a23 100644
--- a/src/basic/path-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/path-util.c
@@ -1304,6 +1304,7 @@ bool hidden_or_backup_file(const char *filename) {
          */
 
         return STR_IN_SET(dot + 1,
+                          "ignore",
                           "rpmnew",
                           "rpmsave",
                           "rpmorig",
diff --git a/src/test/test-path-util.c b/src/test/test-path-util.c
index cbe0341fe4..2251cd4fff 100644
--- a/src/test/test-path-util.c
+++ b/src/test/test-path-util.c
@@ -1202,6 +1202,7 @@ TEST(hidden_or_backup_file) {
         assert_se(hidden_or_backup_file("aquota.user"));
         assert_se(hidden_or_backup_file("aquota.group"));
 
+        assert_se(hidden_or_backup_file("test.ignore"));
         assert_se(hidden_or_backup_file("test.rpmnew"));
         assert_se(hidden_or_backup_file("test.dpkg-old"));
         assert_se(hidden_or_backup_file("test.dpkg-remove"));