diff --git a/src/cppcheck.cpp b/src/cppcheck.cpp
index e2d4ed68b..4e33feba9 100644
--- a/src/cppcheck.cpp
+++ b/src/cppcheck.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ void CppCheck::settings(const Settings &settings)
 
 void CppCheck::addFile(const std::string &path)
 {
-    _filenames.push_back(path);
+    FileLister::RecursiveAddFiles(_filenames, path.c_str(), true);
 }
 
 void CppCheck::addFile(const std::string &path, const std::string &content)
diff --git a/src/cppcheck.h b/src/cppcheck.h
index 75d3fafcb..1c5cae372 100644
--- a/src/cppcheck.h
+++ b/src/cppcheck.h
@@ -74,7 +74,9 @@ public:
      *
      * @param path Relative or absolute path to the file to be checked,
      * e.g. "cppcheck.cpp". Note that only source files (.c, .cc or .cpp)
-     * should be added to the list. Include filese are gathered automatically.
+     * should be added to the list. Include files are gathered automatically.
+     * You can also give path, e.g. "src/" which will be scanned for source
+     * files recursively.
      */
     void addFile(const std::string &path);