diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b3bf707..63b06b4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ require("oil").setup({
     conceallevel = 3,
     concealcursor = "n",
   },
+  -- Oil will take over directory buffers (e.g. `vim .` or `:e src/`
+  default_file_explorer = true,
   -- Restore window options to previous values when leaving an oil buffer
   restore_win_options = true,
   -- Skip the confirmation popup for simple operations
diff --git a/doc/oil.txt b/doc/oil.txt
index dc2f8e2..22c4fc0 100644
--- a/doc/oil.txt
+++ b/doc/oil.txt
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ OPTIONS                                                              *oil-option
         conceallevel = 3,
         concealcursor = "n",
       },
+      -- Oil will take over directory buffers (e.g. `vim .` or `:e src/`
+      default_file_explorer = true,
       -- Restore window options to previous values when leaving an oil buffer
       restore_win_options = true,
       -- Skip the confirmation popup for simple operations
diff --git a/lua/oil/config.lua b/lua/oil/config.lua
index 8e869ee..b11c641 100644
--- a/lua/oil/config.lua
+++ b/lua/oil/config.lua
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ local default_config = {
     conceallevel = 3,
     concealcursor = "n",
   },
+  -- Oil will take over directory buffers (e.g. `vim .` or `:e src/`
+  default_file_explorer = true,
   -- Restore window options to previous values when leaving an oil buffer
   restore_win_options = true,
   -- Skip the confirmation popup for simple operations
diff --git a/lua/oil/init.lua b/lua/oil/init.lua
index 4fa1ec7..c937d3d 100644
--- a/lua/oil/init.lua
+++ b/lua/oil/init.lua
@@ -459,6 +459,9 @@ end
 local function maybe_hijack_directory_buffer(bufnr)
   local config = require("oil.config")
   local util = require("oil.util")
+  if not config.default_file_explorer then
+    return
+  end
   local bufname = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(bufnr)
   if bufname == "" then
     return