diff --git a/Command/Add.hs b/Command/Add.hs
index 7faa7c80d3..eb0dc22d85 100644
--- a/Command/Add.hs
+++ b/Command/Add.hs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ seek ps = do
 	matcher <- largeFilesMatcher
 	let go a = flip a ps $ \file -> ifM (checkFileMatcher matcher file <||> Annex.getState Annex.force)
 		( start file
-		, stop
+		, startSmall file
 		)
 	skipdotfiles <- not <$> Annex.getFlag (optionName includeDotFilesOption)
 	go $ withFilesNotInGit skipdotfiles
@@ -61,6 +61,16 @@ seek ps = do
 		, go withFilesUnlocked
 		)
 
+{- Pass file off to git-add. -}
+startSmall :: FilePath -> CommandStart
+startSmall file = do
+	showStart "add" file
+	showNote "non-large file; adding to git directly"
+	next $ do
+		params <- forceParams
+		Annex.Queue.addCommand "add" (params++[Param "--"]) [file]
+		next $ return True
+
 {- The add subcommand annexes a file, generating a key for it using a
  - backend, and then moving it into the annex directory and setting up
  - the symlink pointing to its content. -}
@@ -260,16 +270,19 @@ addLink :: FilePath -> Key -> Maybe InodeCache -> Annex ()
 addLink file key mcache = ifM (coreSymlinks <$> Annex.getGitConfig)
 	( do
 		_ <- link file key mcache
-		params <- ifM (Annex.getState Annex.force)
-			( return [Param "-f"]
-			, return []
-			)
+		params <- forceParams
 		Annex.Queue.addCommand "add" (params++[Param "--"]) [file]
 	, do
 		l <- link file key mcache
 		addAnnexLink l file
 	)
 
+forceParams :: Annex [CommandParam]
+forceParams = ifM (Annex.getState Annex.force)
+	( return [Param "-f"]
+	, return []
+	)
+
 cleanup :: FilePath -> Key -> Maybe InodeCache -> Bool -> CommandCleanup
 cleanup file key mcache hascontent = do
 	ifM (isDirect <&&> pure hascontent)
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 624b8a413a..519628d1d9 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ git-annex (5.20150406.2) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
     (Second time's the charm..)
   * fromkey, registerurl: When reading from stdin, allow the
     filename and url, respectively, to contain whitespace.
+  * add: If annex.largefiles is set and does not match a file that's being
+    added, the file will be checked into git rather than being added to the
+    annex. Previously, git annex add skipped over such files; this new
+    behavior is more useful in direct mode.
 
  -- Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>  Mon, 06 Apr 2015 20:14:20 -0400
 
diff --git a/doc/git-annex-add.mdwn b/doc/git-annex-add.mdwn
index 4ae0d1ce1a..20033412b7 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex-add.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex-add.mdwn
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ files from the current directory and below.
 Normally, files that are already checked into git, or that git has been
 configured to ignore will be silently skipped.
 
+If annex.largefiles is configured, and does not match a file that is being
+added, `git annex add` will behave the same as `git add` and add the
+non-large file directly to the git repository, instead of to the annex.
+
 # OPTIONS
 
 * `--include-dotfiles`