diff --git a/bin/tar.ml b/bin/tar.ml
index 46f6a6b..609fd05 100644
--- a/bin/tar.ml
+++ b/bin/tar.ml
@@ -60,11 +60,17 @@ let find path tree =
     | _ -> failwith "cannot search non-directory"
   in aux (p, tree)
 
+let add_child name node map =
+  match (NameMap.find_opt name map, node) with
+  | Some (InferredDirectory (children, _)), Directory (_, md) ->
+     NameMap.add name (Directory (children, md)) map
+  | _ -> NameMap.add name node map
+(* TODO: add logic for links, device nodes, and replacing inferred directories *)
 let add_direct name node = function
   | InferredDirectory (map, md) ->
-     InferredDirectory ((NameMap.add name node map), md)
+     InferredDirectory ((add_child name node map), md)
   | Directory (map, md) ->
-     Directory ((NameMap.add name node map), md)
+     Directory ((add_child name node map), md)
   | _ ->
      Printf.printf "whatever the fuck %s" name; Directory (NameMap.empty, empty_dir_metadata)