diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/group b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/group
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b14794e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/group
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+#
+# This file is part of cdist.
+#
+# cdist is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# cdist is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#
+# Check whether file exists or not
+#
+
+destination="/$__object_id"
+
+if [ -e "$destination" ]; then
+  stat -c "%G" "$destination"
+fi
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/mode b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/mode
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3ffa497e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/mode
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+#
+# This file is part of cdist.
+#
+# cdist is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# cdist is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#
+# Check whether file exists or not
+#
+
+destination="/$__object_id"
+
+if [ -e "$destination" ]; then
+  stat -c "%a" "$destination"
+fi
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/owner b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/owner
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a691ac1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/explorer/owner
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+#
+# This file is part of cdist.
+#
+# cdist is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# cdist is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#
+# Check whether file exists or not
+#
+
+destination="/$__object_id"
+
+if [ -e "$destination" ]; then
+  stat -c "%U" "$destination"
+fi
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__directory/gencode-remote b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/gencode-remote
index 21f4c5b6..f46a5967 100755
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__directory/gencode-remote
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__directory/gencode-remote
@@ -18,39 +18,51 @@
 # along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-state_should="present"
-[ -f "$__object/parameter/state" ] && state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
-state_is="$(cat "$__object/explorer/state")"
-[ "$state_should" = "$state_is" ] && exit 0
-
 destination="/$__object_id"
 
+state_is="$(cat "$__object/explorer/state")"
+owner_is="$(cat "$__object/explorer/owner")"
+group_is="$(cat "$__object/explorer/group")"
+mode_is="$(cat "$__object/explorer/mode")"
+
+state_should="present"
+[ -f "$__object/parameter/state" ]     && state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+mode=""
+[ -f "$__object/parameter/mode" ]      && mode="$(cat "$__object/parameter/mode")"
+owner=""
+[ -f "$__object/parameter/owner" ]     && owner="$(cat "$__object/parameter/owner")"
+group=""
+[ -f "$__object/parameter/group" ]     && group="$(cat "$__object/parameter/group")"
 mkdiropt=""
-[ -f "$__object/parameter/parents" ] && mkdiropt="-p"
+[ -f "$__object/parameter/parents" ]   && mkdiropt="-p"
 recursive=""
 [ -f "$__object/parameter/recursive" ] && recursive="-R"
 
 case "$state_should" in
     present)
-        echo mkdir $mkdiropt \"$destination\"
+        if [ "$state_is" != "present" ]; then
+            echo mkdir $mkdiropt \"$destination\"
+        fi
 
         # Mode settings
-        if [ -f "$__object/parameter/mode" ]; then
-            echo chmod \"$(cat "$__object/parameter/mode")\" \"$destination\"
+        if [ "$mode" ] && [ "$mode_is" != "$mode" -o -n "$recursive" ]; then
+            echo chmod $recursive \"$mode\" \"$destination\"
         fi
 
         # Group
-        if [ -f "$__object/parameter/group" ]; then
-            echo chgrp $recursive \"$(cat "$__object/parameter/group")\" \"$destination\"
+        if [ "$group" ] && [ "$group_is" != "$group" -o -n "$recursive" ]; then
+            echo chgrp $recursive \"$group\" \"$destination\"
         fi
 
         # Owner
-        if [ -f "$__object/parameter/owner" ]; then
-            echo chown $recursive \"$(cat "$__object/parameter/owner")\" \"$destination\"
+        if [ "$owner" ] && [ "$owner_is" != "$owner" -o -n "$recursive" ]; then
+            echo chown $recursive \"$owner\" \"$destination\"
         fi
     ;;
     absent)
-        echo rm -rf \"$destination\"
+        if [ "$state_is" != "absent" ]; then
+          echo rm -rf \"$destination\"
+        fi
     ;;
     *)
         echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2