diff --git a/rsync-antora-reference/src/rsync_docs.sh b/rsync-antora-reference/src/rsync_docs.sh
index a2f6f62..8de9aa6 100755
--- a/rsync-antora-reference/src/rsync_docs.sh
+++ b/rsync-antora-reference/src/rsync_docs.sh
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ __rsync_docs() {
   if [ "$dry_run" != "false" ]; then
     rsync_opts="$rsync_opts --dry-run "
   fi
+  if [ -f "$local_path/.htaccess" ]; then
+    rsync_opts="$rsync_opts --include /.htaccess "
+  fi
   if [ -d "$local_path/.cache" ]; then
     rsync_opts="$rsync_opts$(find $local_path/.cache -printf ' --include /.cache/%P')"
   fi
diff --git a/rsync-antora-reference/test/resources/test-rsync_docs.bats/htaccess/.htaccess b/rsync-antora-reference/test/resources/test-rsync_docs.bats/htaccess/.htaccess
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/rsync-antora-reference/test/test-rsync_docs.bats b/rsync-antora-reference/test/test-rsync_docs.bats
index 2e5f9df..9495abe 100644
--- a/rsync-antora-reference/test/test-rsync_docs.bats
+++ b/rsync-antora-reference/test/test-rsync_docs.bats
@@ -63,4 +63,28 @@ usage: rsync_docs.sh [OPTION]...
     assert [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
     assert [ "${lines[0]}" = "Error: Missing option '--ssh-private-key-path'" ]
     assert [ "${lines[1]}" = 'usage: rsync_docs.sh [OPTION]...' ]
+}
+
+@test "when exists .htaccess included before any excludes" {
+    local dir="${BATS_RESOURCE_TEMP_DIR}/htaccess"
+    stub rsync "$(capture_program_args "rsync")"
+
+    run rsync_docs.sh --ssh-host HOST --build-ref-name main --ssh-host-path HOST_PATH --ssh-private-key-path PRIVATE_KEY_PATH --local-path "$dir"
+
+    local rsync_args=$(get_program_args "rsync")
+    assert_success
+    assert_regex "$rsync_args" "^-c -avz --delete --include /.htaccess "
+    unstub rsync
+}
+
+@test "when does not exists .htaccess not included" {
+    local dir="${BATS_RESOURCE_TEMP_DIR}/no-htaccess"
+    stub rsync "$(capture_program_args "rsync")"
+
+    run rsync_docs.sh --ssh-host HOST --build-ref-name main --ssh-host-path HOST_PATH --ssh-private-key-path PRIVATE_KEY_PATH --local-path "$dir"
+
+    local rsync_args=$(get_program_args "rsync")
+    assert_success
+    refute_regex "$rsync_args" " --include /.htaccess "
+    unstub rsync
 }
\ No newline at end of file