diff --git a/src/dbetto/textdb.py b/src/dbetto/textdb.py
index afa3dd2..849eacb 100644
--- a/src/dbetto/textdb.py
+++ b/src/dbetto/textdb.py
@@ -307,7 +307,9 @@ def __getitem__(self, item: str | Path) -> TextDB | AttrsDict | list | None:
 
             # if directory, construct another TextDB object
             if obj.is_dir():
-                db_ptr.__store__[item_id] = TextDB(obj, lazy=self.__lazy__)
+                db_ptr.__store__[item_id] = TextDB(
+                    obj, lazy=self.__lazy__, hidden=self.__hidden__
+                )
 
             else:
                 # try to attach an extension if file cannot be found
diff --git a/tests/test_textdb.py b/tests/test_textdb.py
index 094329b..7e7d4f5 100644
--- a/tests/test_textdb.py
+++ b/tests/test_textdb.py
@@ -324,3 +324,17 @@ def test_lazyness():
         "file2",
         "file3",
     ]
+
+
+def test_hidden():
+    jdb = TextDB(testdb, hidden=True, lazy=False)
+    assert getattr(jdb, "__hidden__", False) is True
+
+    assert isinstance(jdb.dir1, TextDB)
+    assert getattr(jdb.dir1, "__hidden__", False) is True
+
+    assert isinstance(jdb.dir1.dir2, TextDB)
+    assert getattr(jdb.dir1.dir2, "__hidden__", False) is True
+
+    assert isinstance(jdb.dir2, TextDB)
+    assert getattr(jdb.dir2, "__hidden__", False) is True