diff --git a/jupyter_micropython_kernel/deviceconnector.py b/jupyter_micropython_kernel/deviceconnector.py
index 97673f9..2bad015 100644
--- a/jupyter_micropython_kernel/deviceconnector.py
+++ b/jupyter_micropython_kernel/deviceconnector.py
@@ -333,6 +333,29 @@ def receivestream(self, bseekokay, bwarnokaypriors=True, b5secondtimeout=False):
             break   # out of the for loop
         return True
 
+    def rmtree(self, top):
+        sswrite = self.workingserial.write  if self.workingserial  else self.workingwebsocket.send
+        sswrite(
+            b'def rmtree(top):\r\n'
+            b'  import os\r\n'
+            b'  try:  os.remove(top)\r\n'
+            b'  except OSError:  pass\r\n'
+            b'  try:\r\n'
+            b'    for e in os.listdir(top):\r\n'
+            b'      p = "/".join((top,e))\r\n'
+            b'      try:  os.remove(p)\r\n'
+            b'      except:  rmtree(p)\r\n'
+            b'    os.rmdir(top)\r\n'
+            b'  except OSError:  pass\r\n'
+            b'  done = False\r\n'
+            b'  try:  os.stat(top)\r\n'
+            b'  except OSError:  done = True\r\n'
+            b'  return done\r\n\r\n'
+        )
+        sswrite('if not rmtree({}):  print("Failed to delete original {}")\r\n'.format(repr(top), top).encode())
+        sswrite(b'del rmtree\r\n')
+        sswrite(b'\r\x04')  # intermediate execution
+        self.receivestream(bseekokay=True)  # Wait for it to execute
 
     def sendtofile(self, destinationfilename, bmkdir, bappend, bbinary, bquiet, filecontents):
         if not (self.workingserial or self.workingwebsocket):
diff --git a/jupyter_micropython_kernel/kernel.py b/jupyter_micropython_kernel/kernel.py
index 5e4294d..39686c6 100644
--- a/jupyter_micropython_kernel/kernel.py
+++ b/jupyter_micropython_kernel/kernel.py
@@ -377,13 +377,17 @@ def sendtofile(filename, contents):
                     if os.path.isfile(apargs.source):
                         filecontents = open(apargs.source, mode).read()
                         if apargs.execute:
-                            self.sres("Cannot excecute sourced file\n", 31)
+                            self.sres("Cannot execute sourced file\n", 31)
                         sendtofile(destfn, filecontents)
 
                     elif os.path.isdir(apargs.source):
                         if apargs.execute:
-                            self.sres("Cannot excecute folder\n", 31)
+                            self.sres("Cannot execute folder\n", 31)
                         for root, dirs, files in os.walk(apargs.source):
+
+                            if apargs.mkdir:
+                                self.dc.rmtree(destfn)
+
                             for fn in files:
                                 skip = False
                                 fp = os.path.join(root, fn)