diff --git a/tar.go b/tar.go
index 2c3d006..623b4de 100644
--- a/tar.go
+++ b/tar.go
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 type Tar struct {
+	// If true, use GNU header format
+	GNU bool
+
 	// If true, preserve only numeric user and group id
 	NumericUIDGID bool
 
@@ -87,6 +90,9 @@ func (t Tar) writeFileToArchive(ctx context.Context, tw *tar.Writer, file FileIn
 	if hdr.Name == "" {
 		hdr.Name = file.Name() // assume base name of file I guess
 	}
+	if t.GNU {
+		hdr.Format = tar.FormatGNU
+	}
 	if t.NumericUIDGID {
 		hdr.Uname = ""
 		hdr.Gname = ""