diff --git a/bash_tools/bin/stowsh b/bash_tools/bin/stowsh
index d0437f7..a6fada9 100755
--- a/bash_tools/bin/stowsh
+++ b/bash_tools/bin/stowsh
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ shopt -s dotglob
 ###     symlinks to them on your DEST_DIR
 ###     arguments:
 ###       dotfiles_url: URL for your dotfiles
-###       path: path in your dotfiles repo to your actual dotfiles
+###       subpath: path in your dotfiles repo to your actual dotfiles
 ###
 ###  Examples:
 ###
@@ -119,6 +119,12 @@ function _install {
     local dest_filepath
     dest_filepath="${DEST_DIR}/$(basename "${filename}")"
     _log 'install' "creating link: [${dest_filepath}]"
+
+    if [[ -f "${dest_filepath}" ]] || [[ -d "${dest_filepath}" ]]; then
+      _log 'install' "[${dest_filepath} already exists and is not a symlink; skipping"
+      continue
+    fi
+
     ln -s "${filename}" "${dest_filepath}"
   done
 }
diff --git a/docker/test/contrib/opt/app/tests/test_install/test.bats b/docker/test/contrib/opt/app/tests/test_install/test.bats
index f034e7c..593c71a 100644
--- a/docker/test/contrib/opt/app/tests/test_install/test.bats
+++ b/docker/test/contrib/opt/app/tests/test_install/test.bats
@@ -138,3 +138,29 @@ function test_install_installs_dotfiles_with_folders_subpath { # @test
   _init_managed_dir
   _test_install "${path}"
 }
+
+function _test_install_skips_files_or_directories_already_present { # @test
+  init_dotfiles 'simple'
+  _init_managed_dir
+  _test_install
+  _diff_repo_dest_dir
+
+  local expected_filename='.new_file'
+  local dest_expected_filepath="${DEST_DIR}/${expected_filename}"
+  echo -n 'hello' > "${dest_expected_filepath}"
+
+  stowsh add "${dest_expected_filepath}"
+  stowsh git add -A
+  stowsh git commit -m 'initial file'
+
+  local second_expected_filename='.second_new_file'
+  local dest_second_expected_filepath="${DEST_DIR}/${second_expected_filename}"
+  echo -n 'hello' > "${dest_second_expected_filepath}"
+
+  stowsh install "${DOTFILES_URL}"
+
+  [[ -f "${dest_second_expected_filepath}" ]]
+
+  ! diff --unified "${dest_expected_dirpath}/" "${MANAGED_DIR}/${actual_dir}"
+  ! [[ -L "${dest_second_expected_filepath}" ]]
+}