diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/git/init.lua b/lua/neo-tree/git/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..18a60d1cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/git/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+local Path = require("plenary.path")
+local utils = require("neo-tree.utils")
+
+local os_sep = Path.path.sep
+
+local M = {}
+
+local function execute_command(cmd)
+  local result = vim.fn.systemlist(cmd)
+
+  -- An empty result is ok
+  if vim.v.shell_error ~= 0 or (#result > 0 and vim.startswith(result[1], "fatal:")) then
+    return false, {}
+  else
+    return true, result
+  end
+end
+
+local function windowize_path(path)
+  return path:gsub("/", "\\")
+end
+
+M.get_repository_root = function(path)
+  local cmd = "git rev-parse --show-toplevel"
+  if utils.truthy(path) then
+    cmd = "git -C " .. path .. " rev-parse --show-toplevel"
+  end
+  local ok, git_root = execute_command(cmd)
+  if not ok then
+    return nil
+  end
+  git_root = git_root[1]
+
+  if utils.is_windows then
+    git_root = windowize_path(git_root)
+  end
+
+  return git_root
+end
+
+local function get_simple_git_status_code(status)
+  -- Prioritze M then A over all others
+  if status:match("U") or status == "AA" or status == "DD" then
+    return "U"
+  elseif status:match("M") then
+    return "M"
+  elseif status:match("[ACR]") then
+    return "A"
+  elseif status:match("!$") then
+    return "!"
+  elseif status:match("?$") then
+    return "?"
+  else
+    local len = #status
+    while len > 0 do
+      local char = status:sub(len, len)
+      if char ~= " " then
+        return char
+      end
+      len = len - 1
+    end
+    return status
+  end
+end
+
+local function get_priority_git_status_code(status, other_status)
+  if not status then
+    return other_status
+  elseif not other_status then
+    return status
+  elseif status == "U" or other_status == "U" then
+    return "U"
+  elseif status == "?" or other_status == "?" then
+    return "?"
+  elseif status == "M" or other_status == "M" then
+    return "M"
+  elseif status == "A" or other_status == "A" then
+    return "A"
+  else
+    return status
+  end
+end
+
+---Parse "git status" output for the current working directory.
+---@return table table Table with the path as key and the status as value.
+M.status = function(exclude_directories)
+  local git_root = M.get_repository_root()
+  if not git_root then
+    return {}
+  end
+  local ok, result = execute_command("git status --porcelain=v1")
+  if not ok then
+    return {}
+  end
+
+  local git_status = {}
+  for _, line in ipairs(result) do
+    local status = line:sub(1, 2)
+    local relative_path = line:sub(4)
+    local arrow_pos = relative_path:find(" -> ")
+    if arrow_pos ~= nil then
+      relative_path = line:sub(arrow_pos + 5)
+    end
+    -- remove any " due to whitespace in the path
+    relative_path = relative_path:gsub('^"', ""):gsub('$"', "")
+    if utils.is_windows == true then
+      relative_path = windowize_path(relative_path)
+    end
+    local absolute_path = string.format("%s%s%s", git_root, os_sep, relative_path)
+    git_status[absolute_path] = status
+
+    if not exclude_directories then
+      -- Now bubble this status up to the parent directories
+      local file_status = get_simple_git_status_code(status)
+      local parents = Path:new(absolute_path):parents()
+      for i = #parents, 1, -1 do
+        local path = parents[i]
+        local path_status = git_status[path]
+        git_status[path] = get_priority_git_status_code(path_status, file_status)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  return git_status, git_root
+end
+
+M.load_ignored = function(path)
+  local git_root = M.get_repository_root(path)
+  if not git_root then
+    return {}
+  end
+  local ok, result = execute_command(
+    "git --no-optional-locks status --porcelain=v1 --ignored=matching --untracked-files=normal"
+  )
+  if not ok then
+    return {}
+  end
+
+  local ignored = {}
+  for _, v in ipairs(result) do
+    -- git ignore format:
+    -- !! path/to/file
+    -- !! path/to/path/
+    -- with paths relative to the repository root
+    if v:sub(1, 2) == "!!" then
+      local entry = v:sub(4)
+      -- remove any " due to whitespace in the path
+      entry = entry:gsub('^"', ""):gsub('$"', "")
+      if utils.is_windows then
+        entry = windowize_path(entry)
+      end
+      -- use the absolute path
+      table.insert(ignored, string.format("%s%s%s", git_root, os_sep, entry))
+    end
+  end
+
+  return ignored
+end
+
+M.is_ignored = function(ignored, path, _type)
+  path = _type == "directory" and (path .. os_sep) or path
+  for _, v in ipairs(ignored) do
+    if v:sub(-1) == os_sep then
+      -- directory ignore
+      if vim.startswith(path, v) then
+        return true
+      end
+    else
+      -- file ignore
+      if path == v then
+        return true
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+return M
diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/sources/buffers/init.lua b/lua/neo-tree/sources/buffers/init.lua
index 63d919e18..503661b5a 100644
--- a/lua/neo-tree/sources/buffers/init.lua
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/sources/buffers/init.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local renderer = require("neo-tree.ui.renderer")
 local items = require("neo-tree.sources.buffers.lib.items")
 local events = require("neo-tree.events")
 local manager = require("neo-tree.sources.manager")
+local git = require("neo-tree.git")
 
 local M = { name = "buffers" }
 
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ M.setup = function(config, global_config)
       handler = function(state)
         local this_state = get_state()
         if state == this_state then
-          state.git_status_lookup = utils.get_git_status()
+          state.git_status_lookup = git.status()
         end
       end,
     })
diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/README.md b/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/README.md
index ee2af1a16..bbca6a503 100644
--- a/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/README.md
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/README.md
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ require("neo-tree").setup({
       -- This function is called after the file system has been scanned,
       -- but before the tree is rendered. You can use this to gather extra
       -- data that can be used in the renderers.
-      local utils = require("neo-tree.utils")
-      state.git_status_lookup = utils.get_git_status()
+      local git = require("neo-tree.git")
+      state.git_status_lookup = git.status()
     end,
     -- The components section provides custom functions that may be called by 
     -- the renderers below. Each componment is a function that takes the
diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/init.lua b/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/init.lua
index 2ae0aa7bd..f47dcb58a 100644
--- a/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/init.lua
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/init.lua
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ local inputs = require("neo-tree.ui.inputs")
 local events = require("neo-tree.events")
 local log = require("neo-tree.log")
 local manager = require("neo-tree.sources.manager")
+local git = require("neo-tree.git")
 
 local M = { name = "filesystem" }
 
@@ -251,7 +252,7 @@ M.setup = function(config, global_config)
       handler = function(state)
         local this_state = get_state()
         if state == this_state then
-          state.git_status_lookup = utils.get_git_status()
+          state.git_status_lookup = git.status()
         end
       end,
     })
diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/lib/fs_scan.lua b/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/lib/fs_scan.lua
index 087e099fc..287de4735 100644
--- a/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/lib/fs_scan.lua
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/sources/filesystem/lib/fs_scan.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local filter_external = require("neo-tree.sources.filesystem.lib.filter_external
 local file_items = require("neo-tree.sources.common.file-items")
 local log = require("neo-tree.log")
 local fs_watch = require("neo-tree.sources.filesystem.lib.fs_watch")
+local git = require("neo-tree.git")
 
 local M = {}
 
@@ -20,14 +21,15 @@ local function do_scan(context, path_to_scan)
 
   scan.scan_dir_async(path_to_scan, {
     hidden = filters.show_hidden or false,
-    respect_gitignore = filters.respect_gitignore or false,
     search_pattern = state.search_pattern or nil,
     add_dirs = true,
     depth = 1,
     on_insert = function(path, _type)
-      local success, _ = pcall(file_items.create_item, context, path, _type)
-      if not success then
-        log.error("error creating item for ", path)
+      if not filters.respect_gitignore or not git.is_ignored(state.git_ignored, path, _type) then
+        local success, _ = pcall(file_items.create_item, context, path, _type)
+        if not success then
+          log.error("error creating item for ", path)
+        end
       end
     end,
     on_exit = vim.schedule_wrap(function()
@@ -145,6 +147,8 @@ M.get_items_async = function(state, parent_id, path_to_reveal, callback)
         end)
         context.paths_to_load = utils.unique(context.paths_to_load)
       end
+
+      state.git_ignored = state.filters.respect_gitignore and git.load_ignored(state.path) or {}
     end
     do_scan(context, parent_id or state.path)
   end
diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/sources/git_status/lib/items.lua b/lua/neo-tree/sources/git_status/lib/items.lua
index 8fff5a579..97ae71e53 100644
--- a/lua/neo-tree/sources/git_status/lib/items.lua
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/sources/git_status/lib/items.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 local vim = vim
 local renderer = require("neo-tree.ui.renderer")
-local utils = require("neo-tree.utils")
 local file_items = require("neo-tree.sources.common.file-items")
 local popups = require("neo-tree.ui.popups")
 local log = require("neo-tree.log")
+local git = require("neo-tree.git")
 
 local M = {}
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ M.get_git_status = function(state)
     return
   end
   state.loading = true
-  local status_lookup, project_root = utils.get_git_status(true)
+  local status_lookup, project_root = git.status(true)
   state.path = project_root or state.path or vim.fn.getcwd()
   local context = file_items.create_context(state)
   -- Create root folder
diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/ui/highlights.lua b/lua/neo-tree/ui/highlights.lua
index 322a8570b..fe2fb59d1 100644
--- a/lua/neo-tree/ui/highlights.lua
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/ui/highlights.lua
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ M.NORMALNC = "NeoTreeNormalNC"
 M.ROOT_NAME = "NeoTreeRootName"
 M.TITLE_BAR = "NeoTreeTitleBar"
 
-function dec_to_hex(n)
+local function dec_to_hex(n)
   local hex = string.format("%06x", n)
   if n < 16 then
     hex = "0" .. hex
diff --git a/lua/neo-tree/utils.lua b/lua/neo-tree/utils.lua
index e80caf2d8..63ded78e0 100644
--- a/lua/neo-tree/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/neo-tree/utils.lua
@@ -8,49 +8,6 @@ table.unpack = table.unpack or unpack
 
 local M = {}
 
-local function get_simple_git_status_code(status)
-  -- Prioritze M then A over all others
-  if status:match("U") or status == "AA" or status == "DD" then
-    return "U"
-  elseif status:match("M") then
-    return "M"
-  elseif status:match("[ACR]") then
-    return "A"
-  elseif status:match("!$") then
-    return "!"
-  elseif status:match("?$") then
-    return "?"
-  else
-    local len = #status
-    while len > 0 do
-      local char = status:sub(len, len)
-      if char ~= " " then
-        return char
-      end
-      len = len - 1
-    end
-    return status
-  end
-end
-
-local function get_priority_git_status_code(status, other_status)
-  if not status then
-    return other_status
-  elseif not other_status then
-    return status
-  elseif status == "U" or other_status == "U" then
-    return "U"
-  elseif status == "?" or other_status == "?" then
-    return "?"
-  elseif status == "M" or other_status == "M" then
-    return "M"
-  elseif status == "A" or other_status == "A" then
-    return "A"
-  else
-    return status
-  end
-end
-
 local diag_severity_to_string = function(severity)
   if severity == vim.diagnostic.severity.ERROR then
     return "Error"
@@ -168,69 +125,6 @@ M.get_diagnostic_counts = function()
   return lookup
 end
 
-M.get_git_project_root = function(path)
-  local cmd = "git rev-parse --show-toplevel"
-  if M.truthy(path) then
-    cmd = "cd " .. vim.fn.shellescape(path) .. " && " .. cmd
-  end
-  return vim.fn.systemlist(cmd)[1]
-end
-
----Parse "git status" output for the current working directory.
----@return table table Table with the path as key and the status as value.
-M.get_git_status = function(exclude_directories)
-  local project_root = M.get_git_project_root()
-  local git_output = vim.fn.systemlist("git status --porcelain")
-  local git_status = {}
-  local codes = "[ACDMRTU!%?%s]"
-  codes = codes .. codes
-
-  for _, line in ipairs(git_output) do
-    local status = line:match("^(" .. codes .. ")%s")
-    local relative_path = line:match("^" .. codes .. "%s+(.+)$")
-    if not relative_path then
-      if line:match("fatal: not a git repository") then
-        return {}
-      else
-        log.error("Error parsing git status for: " .. line)
-      end
-      break
-    end
-    local renamed = line:match("^" .. codes .. "%s+.*%s->%s(.*)$")
-    if renamed then
-      relative_path = renamed
-    end
-    if relative_path:sub(1, 1) == '"' then
-      -- path was quoted, remove quoting
-      relative_path = relative_path:match('^"(.+)".*')
-    end
-    if M.is_windows == true then
-      project_root = project_root:gsub("/", M.path_separator)
-      relative_path = relative_path:gsub("/", M.path_separator)
-    end
-    local absolute_path = project_root .. M.path_separator .. relative_path
-    git_status[absolute_path] = status
-
-    if not exclude_directories then
-      -- Now bubble this status up to the parent directories
-      local parts = M.split(absolute_path, M.path_separator)
-      table.remove(parts) -- pop the last part so we don't override the file's status
-      M.reduce(parts, "", function(acc, part)
-        local path = acc .. M.path_separator .. part
-        if M.is_windows == true then
-          path = path:gsub("^" .. M.path_separator, "")
-        end
-        local path_status = git_status[path]
-        local file_status = get_simple_git_status_code(status)
-        git_status[path] = get_priority_git_status_code(path_status, file_status)
-        return path
-      end)
-    end
-  end
-
-  return git_status, project_root
-end
-
 ---Resolves some variable to a string. The object can be either a string or a
 --function that returns a string.
 ---@param functionOrString any The object to resolve.