diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6cf1596143d..b5c88ce04ab 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 # editor and OS artifacts
 *~
-/.vs
 .DS_STORE
 
 # query compilation caches
@@ -9,3 +8,7 @@
 # qltest projects and artifacts
 */ql/test/**/*.testproj
 */ql/test/**/*.actual
+
+# Visual studio temporaries, except a file used by QL4VS
+.vs/*
+!.vs/VSWorkspaceSettings.json