diff --git a/library/files/copy b/library/files/copy
index d961764772a..dbf9c71b4f6 100644
--- a/library/files/copy
+++ b/library/files/copy
@@ -76,6 +76,12 @@ options:
     required: false
     default: ""
     version_added: "1.2"
+  directory_mode:
+    description:
+      - When doing a recursive copy set the mode for the directories. If this is not set we will default the system
+        defaults.
+    required: false
+    version_added: "1.5"
   others:
     description:
       - all arguments accepted by the M(file) module also work here
@@ -97,6 +103,34 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
 - copy: src=/mine/sudoers dest=/etc/sudoers validate='visudo -cf %s'
 '''
 
+
+def split_pre_existing_dir(dirname):
+    '''
+    Return the first pre-existing directory and a list of the new directories that will be created.
+    '''
+
+    head, tail = os.path.split(dirname)
+    if not os.path.exists(head):
+        (pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list) = split_pre_existing_dir(head)
+    else:
+        return (head, [ tail ])
+    new_directory_list.insert(0, tail)
+    return (pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list)
+
+
+def adjust_recursive_directory_permissions(pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list, module, directory_args, changed):
+    '''
+    Walk the new directories list and make sure that permissions are as we would expect
+    '''
+
+    if len(new_directory_list) > 0:
+        working_dir = os.path.join(pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list.pop(0))
+        directory_args['path'] = working_dir
+        changed = module.set_directory_attributes_if_different(directory_args, changed)
+        changed = adjust_recursive_directory_permissions(working_dir, new_directory_list, module, directory_args, changed)
+    return changed
+
+
 def main():
 
     module = AnsibleModule(
@@ -109,6 +143,7 @@ def main():
             backup            = dict(default=False, type='bool'),
             force             = dict(default=True, aliases=['thirsty'], type='bool'),
             validate          = dict(required=False, type='str'),
+            directory_mode    = dict(required=False)
         ),
         add_file_common_args=True,
     )
@@ -128,12 +163,22 @@ def main():
     md5sum_src = module.md5(src)
     md5sum_dest = None
 
+    changed = False
+
     # Special handling for recursive copy - create intermediate dirs
     if original_basename and dest.endswith("/"):
         dest = os.path.join(dest, original_basename)
         dirname = os.path.dirname(dest)
         if not os.path.exists(dirname):
+            (pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list) = split_pre_existing_dir(dirname)
             os.makedirs(dirname)
+            directory_args = module.load_file_common_arguments(module.params)
+            directory_mode = module.params["directory_mode"]
+            if directory_mode is not None:
+                directory_args['mode'] = directory_mode
+            else:
+                directory_args['mode'] = None
+            adjust_recursive_directory_permissions(pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list, module, directory_args, changed)
 
     if os.path.exists(dest):
         if not force: