diff --git a/.github/generate.py b/.github/generate.py
index 19f8a3b..87881c5 100755
--- a/.github/generate.py
+++ b/.github/generate.py
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ COL_DEFS = [
         + [
             LuaParam("default_file", "string", "Fallback icon for files when nvim-web-devicons returns nil"),
             LuaParam("directory", "string", "Icon for directories"),
+            LuaParam("add_padding", "boolean", "Set to false to remove the extra whitespace after the icon"),
         ],
     ),
     ColumnDef("size", "files, ssh", False, "The size of the file", HL + []),
diff --git a/doc/oil.txt b/doc/oil.txt
index 5a5ec12..bdca4d9 100644
--- a/doc/oil.txt
+++ b/doc/oil.txt
@@ -260,6 +260,8 @@ icon                                                                 *column-ico
       {default_file} `string` Fallback icon for files when nvim-web-devicons
                      returns nil
       {directory}    `string` Icon for directories
+      {add_padding}  `boolean` Set to false to remove the extra whitespace after
+                     the icon
 
 size                                                                 *column-size*
     Adapters: files, ssh
@@ -383,6 +385,9 @@ HIGHLIGHTS                                                        *oil-highlight
 OilDir                                                                 *hl-OilDir*
     Directories in an oil buffer
 
+OilDirIcon                                                         *hl-OilDirIcon*
+    Icon for directories
+
 OilSocket                                                           *hl-OilSocket*
     Socket files in an oil buffer
 
diff --git a/lua/oil/columns.lua b/lua/oil/columns.lua
index fef42d8..43a4d14 100644
--- a/lua/oil/columns.lua
+++ b/lua/oil/columns.lua
@@ -208,16 +208,18 @@ if has_devicons then
           type = meta.link_stat.type
         end
       end
+      local icon, hl
       if type == "directory" then
-        local icon = conf and conf.directory or " "
-        return { icon, "OilDir" }
+        icon = conf and conf.directory or ""
+        hl = "OilDirIcon"
       else
-        local icon
-        local hl
         icon, hl = devicons.get_icon(name)
         icon = icon or (conf and conf.default_file or "")
-        return { icon .. " ", hl }
       end
+      if not conf or conf.add_padding ~= false then
+        icon = icon .. " "
+      end
+      return { icon, hl }
     end,
 
     parse = function(line, conf)
diff --git a/lua/oil/init.lua b/lua/oil/init.lua
index e06937d..bac18a3 100644
--- a/lua/oil/init.lua
+++ b/lua/oil/init.lua
@@ -625,6 +625,11 @@ M._get_highlights = function()
       link = "Directory",
       desc = "Directories in an oil buffer",
     },
+    {
+      name = "OilDirIcon",
+      link = "OilDir",
+      desc = "Icon for directories",
+    },
     {
       name = "OilSocket",
       link = "Keyword",