diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6f20934e6..792e61878 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 # Ignore all contents of the directory "work_dir"
 work_dir/*
 # But do not ignore the directory itself
-!work_dir
+!work_dir/.gitkeep
 
 # Ignore all contents of the directory "memory"
 memory/*
 # But do not ignore the directory itself
-!memory
\ No newline at end of file
+!memory/.gitkeep
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/memory/.gitkeep b/memory/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/work_dir/.gitkeep b/work_dir/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb