diff --git a/emacs.d/dired.el b/emacs.d/dired.el
index bbf94b8..5f52381 100644
--- a/emacs.d/dired.el
+++ b/emacs.d/dired.el
@@ -51,4 +51,7 @@
                 (auto-revert-mode))))
   :config
   (push 'toggle-window-split dired-sidebar-toggle-hidden-commands)
-  (push 'rotate-windows dired-sidebar-toggle-hidden-commands))
+  (push 'rotate-windows dired-sidebar-toggle-hidden-commands)
+  ;; allow the sidebar to be manually resized
+  (setq dired-sidebar-window-fixed nil)
+  (setq dired-sidebar-width 25))