diff --git a/lib/kitchen/transport/rsync.rb b/lib/kitchen/transport/rsync.rb
index 302c3aa..e45817e 100644
--- a/lib/kitchen/transport/rsync.rb
+++ b/lib/kitchen/transport/rsync.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ def create_new_connection(options, &block)
           @connection.close
         end
 
+        $kitchen_rsync_opts = self.[](:rsync_options) if self.[](:rsync_options)
+
         @connection_options = options
         @connection = self.class::Connection.new(options, &block)
       end
@@ -50,7 +52,12 @@ def upload(locals, remote)
           rsync_candidates = locals.select {|path| File.directory?(path) && File.basename(path) != 'cache' }
           ssh_command = "ssh #{ssh_args.join(' ')}"
           copy_identity
-          rsync_cmd = "/usr/bin/rsync -e '#{ssh_command}' -az#{logger.level == :debug ? 'vv' : ''} --delete #{rsync_candidates.join(' ')} #{@session.options[:user]}@#{@session.host}:#{remote}"
+          rsync_cmd = "/usr/bin/rsync -e '#{ssh_command}' -az#{logger.level == :debug ? 'vv' : ''} --delete "
+          if $kitchen_rsync_opts && $kitchen_rsync_opts[:excludes]
+            rsync_cmd << $kitchen_rsync_opts[:excludes].map { |e| "--exclude '#{e}'" }.join(' ')
+            rsync_cmd << ' '
+          end
+          rsync_cmd << "#{rsync_candidates.join(' ')} #{@session.options[:user]}@#{@session.host}:#{remote}"
           logger.debug("[rsync] Running rsync command: #{rsync_cmd}")
           ret = []
           time = Benchmark.realtime do