diff --git a/dotdrop/dotfile.py b/dotdrop/dotfile.py
index 0c6813f..f033aad 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotfile.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotfile.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class Dotfile(DictParser):
                  link=LinkTypes.NOLINK, noempty=False,
                  cmpignore=None, upignore=None,
                  instignore=None, template=True, chmod=None,
-                 ignore_missing_in_dotdrop=False, dir_as_block=False):
+                 ignore_missing_in_dotdrop=False, dir_as_block=None):
         """
         constructor
         @key: dotfile key
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Dotfile(DictParser):
         self.template = template
         self.chmod = chmod
         self.ignore_missing_in_dotdrop = ignore_missing_in_dotdrop
-        self.dir_as_block = dir_as_block
+        self.dir_as_block = dir_as_block or []
 
         if self.link != LinkTypes.NOLINK and \
                 (
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class Dotfile(DictParser):
         value['noempty'] = value.get(cls.key_noempty, False)
         value['template'] = value.get(cls.key_template, True)
         value['dir_as_block'] = value.get(
-            cls.key_dir_as_block, False)
+            cls.key_dir_as_block, [])
         # remove old entries
         value.pop(cls.key_noempty, None)
         return value
diff --git a/dotdrop/ftree.py b/dotdrop/ftree.py
index e2a82f1..b3b88a9 100644
--- a/dotdrop/ftree.py
+++ b/dotdrop/ftree.py
@@ -18,12 +18,11 @@ class FTreeDir:
     directory tree for comparison
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, path, ignores=None,
-                 debug=False, dir_as_block=False):
+    def __init__(self, path, ignores=None, debug=False, dir_as_block=None):
         self.path = path
         self.ignores = ignores
         self.debug = debug
-        self.dir_as_block = dir_as_block
+        self.dir_as_block = dir_as_block or []
         self.entries = []
         self.log = Logger(debug=self.debug)
         if os.path.exists(path) and os.path.isdir(path):
@@ -35,13 +34,12 @@ class FTreeDir:
         ignore empty directory
         test for ignore pattern
         """
-        # if directory should be handled as a block
-        # just add the directory itself
-        if self.dir_as_block:
-            self.log.dbg(
-                f'handle as block: {self.path}')
-            self.entries.append(self.path)
-            return
+        import fnmatch
+        for pattern in self.dir_as_block:
+            if fnmatch.fnmatch(self.path, pattern):
+                self.log.dbg(f'dir_as_block match: {pattern} for {self.path}')
+                self.entries.append(self.path)
+                return
 
         for root, dirs, files in os.walk(self.path, followlinks=True):
             for file in files:
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index 5fe2197..9519ed3 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class Installer:
     def install(self, templater, src, dst, linktype,
                 actionexec=None, noempty=False,
                 ignore=None, is_template=True,
-                chmod=None, dir_as_block=False):
+                chmod=None, dir_as_block=None):
         """
         install src to dst
 
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ class Installer:
         - False, error_msg  : error
         - False, None       : ignored
         """
+        dir_as_block = dir_as_block or []
         if not src or not dst:
             # fake dotfile
             self.log.dbg('fake dotfile installed')
@@ -134,6 +135,21 @@ class Installer:
         self.log.dbg(f'\"{src}\" is a directory: {isdir}')
         self.log.dbg(f'dir_as_block: {dir_as_block}')
 
+        import fnmatch
+        treat_as_block = any(fnmatch.fnmatch(src, pattern) for pattern in dir_as_block)
+        self.log.dbg(f'dir_as_block patterns: {dir_as_block}, treat_as_block: {treat_as_block}')
+        if treat_as_block:
+            self.log.dbg(f'handling directory {src} as a block for installation')
+            ret, err, ins = self._copy_dir(templater, src, dst,
+                                           actionexec=actionexec,
+                                           noempty=noempty, ignore=ignore,
+                                           is_template=is_template,
+                                           chmod=chmod,
+                                           dir_as_block=True)
+            if self.remove_existing_in_dir and ins:
+                self._remove_existing_in_dir(dst, ins)
+            return self._log_install(ret, err)
+
         if linktype == LinkTypes.NOLINK:
             # normal file
             if isdir: