diff --git a/lua/chatgpt_nvim/context.lua b/lua/chatgpt_nvim/context.lua
index 55b1933..992cc0f 100644
--- a/lua/chatgpt_nvim/context.lua
+++ b/lua/chatgpt_nvim/context.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,37 @@ local M = {}
 
 local uv = vim.loop
 
+-- Converts a .gitignore-style pattern to a Lua pattern
+local function gitignore_to_lua_pattern(gip)
+  -- Trim spaces
+  gip = gip:gsub("^%s*(.-)%s*$", "%1")
+
+  -- Escape magic chars in Lua patterns
+  local magic_chars = "().^$+%-*?[]"
+  gip = gip:gsub("["..magic_chars.."]", "%%%1")
+
+  -- Convert ** to .- (match any path, including dirs)
+  gip = gip:gsub("%%%%%*%%%%%*", ".*")
+
+  -- Convert * to [^/]* (match anything except /)
+  gip = gip:gsub("%%%%%*", "[^/]*")
+
+  -- If pattern starts with /, ensure it matches start of string
+  if gip:sub(1,1) == "/" then
+    gip = "^" .. gip:sub(2)
+  else
+    -- Otherwise allow matching anywhere
+    gip = gip
+  end
+
+  -- If pattern ends with /, ensure it matches a directory
+  if gip:sub(-1) == "/" then
+    gip = gip .. ".*"
+  end
+
+  return gip
+end
+
 local function load_gitignore_patterns(root, conf)
   local gitignore_path = root .. "/.gitignore"
   local fd = uv.fs_open(gitignore_path, "r", 438)
@@ -19,7 +50,7 @@ local function load_gitignore_patterns(root, conf)
   for line in data:gmatch("[^\r\n]+") do
     line = line:match("^%s*(.-)%s*$")
     if line ~= "" and not line:match("^#") then
-      patterns[#patterns+1] = line
+      table.insert(patterns, gitignore_to_lua_pattern(line))
     end
   end
   if conf.debug then
@@ -30,7 +61,7 @@ end
 
 local function should_ignore_file(file, ignore_patterns, conf)
   for _, pattern in ipairs(ignore_patterns) do
-    if file:find(pattern, 1, true) then
+    if file:match(pattern) then
       if conf.debug then
         vim.api.nvim_out_write("[chatgpt_nvim:context] Ignoring file/dir: " .. file .. " (matched pattern: " .. pattern .. ")\n")
       end
@@ -154,4 +185,4 @@ function M.get_file_contents(files, conf)
   return table.concat(sections, "\n")
 end
 
-return M
+return M
\ No newline at end of file