diff --git a/mitogen/service.py b/mitogen/service.py
index 55e69745..8016987c 100644
--- a/mitogen/service.py
+++ b/mitogen/service.py
@@ -756,6 +756,8 @@ class FileService(Service):
         super(FileService, self).__init__(router)
         #: Set of registered paths.
         self._paths = set()
+        #: Set of registered directory prefixes.
+        self._prefixes = set()
         #: Mapping of Stream->FileStreamState.
         self._state_by_stream = {}
 
@@ -781,6 +783,22 @@ class FileService(Service):
             LOG.debug('%r: registering %r', self, path)
             self._paths.add(path)
 
+    @expose(policy=AllowParents())
+    @arg_spec({
+        'path': mitogen.core.FsPathTypes,
+    })
+    def register_prefix(self, path):
+        """
+        Authorize a path and any subpaths for access by children. Repeat calls
+        with the same path has no effect.
+
+        :param str path:
+            File path.
+        """
+        if path not in self._prefixes:
+            LOG.debug('%r: registering prefix %r', self, path)
+            self._prefixes.add(path)
+
     def _generate_stat(self, path):
         st = os.stat(path)
         if not stat.S_ISREG(st.st_mode):
@@ -844,6 +862,24 @@ class FileService(Service):
                 fp.close()
                 state.jobs.pop(0)
 
+    def _prefix_is_authorized(self, path):
+        """
+        Return the set of all possible directory prefixes for `path`.
+        :func:`os.path.abspath` is used to ensure the path is absolute.
+
+        :param str path:
+            The path.
+        :returns: Set of prefixes.
+        """
+        path = os.path.abspath(path)
+        while True:
+            if path in self._prefixes:
+                return True
+            if path == '/':
+                break
+            path = os.path.dirname(path)
+        return False
+
     @expose(policy=AllowAny())
     @no_reply()
     @arg_spec({
@@ -870,7 +906,7 @@ class FileService(Service):
         :raises Error:
             Unregistered path, or Sender did not match requestee context.
         """
-        if path not in self._paths:
+        if path not in self._paths and not self._prefix_is_authorized(path):
             raise Error(self.unregistered_msg)
         if msg.src_id != sender.context.context_id:
             raise Error(self.context_mismatch_msg)
diff --git a/tests/file_service_test.py b/tests/file_service_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2cc217a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/file_service_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+
+import unittest2
+
+import mitogen.service
+
+import testlib
+
+
+class FetchTest(testlib.RouterMixin, testlib.TestCase):
+    klass = mitogen.service.FileService
+
+    def test_unauthorized(self):
+        service = self.klass(self.router)
+        e = self.assertRaises(mitogen.service.Error,
+            lambda: service.fetch(
+                path='/etc/shadow',
+                sender=None,
+                msg=mitogen.core.Message(),
+            )
+        )
+
+        self.assertEquals(e.args[0], service.unregistered_msg)
+
+    def test_path_authorized(self):
+        recv = mitogen.core.Receiver(self.router)
+        service = self.klass(self.router)
+        service.register('/etc/passwd')
+        self.assertEquals(None, service.fetch(
+            path='/etc/passwd',
+            sender=recv.to_sender(),
+            msg=mitogen.core.Message(),
+        ))
+
+    def test_root_authorized(self):
+        recv = mitogen.core.Receiver(self.router)
+        service = self.klass(self.router)
+        service.register_prefix('/')
+        self.assertEquals(None, service.fetch(
+            path='/etc/passwd',
+            sender=recv.to_sender(),
+            msg=mitogen.core.Message(),
+        ))
+
+    def test_prefix_authorized(self):
+        recv = mitogen.core.Receiver(self.router)
+        service = self.klass(self.router)
+        service.register_prefix('/etc')
+        self.assertEquals(None, service.fetch(
+            path='/etc/passwd',
+            sender=recv.to_sender(),
+            msg=mitogen.core.Message(),
+        ))
+
+    def test_prefix_authorized_abspath_bad(self):
+        recv = mitogen.core.Receiver(self.router)
+        service = self.klass(self.router)
+        service.register_prefix('/etc')
+        self.assertEquals(None, service.fetch(
+            path='/etc/foo/bar/../../../passwd',
+            sender=recv.to_sender(),
+            msg=mitogen.core.Message(),
+        ))
+
+    def test_prefix_authorized_abspath_bad(self):
+        recv = mitogen.core.Receiver(self.router)
+        service = self.klass(self.router)
+        service.register_prefix('/etc')
+        e = self.assertRaises(mitogen.service.Error,
+            lambda: service.fetch(
+                path='/etc/../shadow',
+                sender=recv.to_sender(),
+                msg=mitogen.core.Message(),
+            )
+        )
+
+        self.assertEquals(e.args[0], service.unregistered_msg)
+
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest2.main()