diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c87379c..79fe06e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -10,5 +10,4 @@ logs/certbot/*
 
 # ignore generated certificates for haproxy
 data/certificates/*
-
-
+!data/certificates/.placeholder
diff --git a/data/certbot/etc/.placeholder b/data/certbot/etc/.placeholder
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/data/certbot/var/.placeholder b/data/certbot/var/.placeholder
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/data/certificates/.placeholder b/data/certificates/.placeholder
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/logs/certbot/.placeholder b/logs/certbot/.placeholder
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29