diff --git a/google/colab/files.py b/google/colab/files.py
index 47567a7c..9ee5aa4e 100644
--- a/google/colab/files.py
+++ b/google/colab/files.py
@@ -57,11 +57,14 @@ def upload_file(filename):
   )
 
 
-def upload():
+def upload(target_dir=''):
   """Render a widget to upload local (to the browser) files to the kernel.
 
   Blocks until the files are available.
 
+  Args:
+    target_dir: If provided, corresponds to the directory to write the files to.
+
   Returns:
     A map of the form {<filename>: <file contents>} for all uploaded files.
   """
@@ -71,11 +74,16 @@ def upload():
   local_filenames = dict()
   uploaded_files_with_updated_names = dict()
 
+  # If there was a specified target directory, create it.
+  if target_dir:
+    _os.makedirs(target_dir, exist_ok=True)
+
   for filename, data in uploaded_files.items():
-    local_filename = local_filenames.get(filename)
+    complete_filename = _os.path.join(target_dir, filename)
+    local_filename = local_filenames.get(complete_filename)
     if not local_filename:
-      local_filename = _get_unique_filename(filename)
-      local_filenames[filename] = local_filename
+      local_filename = _get_unique_filename(complete_filename)
+      local_filenames[complete_filename] = local_filename
       print(
           'Saving {filename} to {local_filename}'.format(
               filename=filename, local_filename=local_filename