diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/artifact/buildinfo/DescribeBuildOutputMojo.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/artifact/buildinfo/DescribeBuildOutputMojo.java
index ba5e526..0b0e6ff 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/artifact/buildinfo/DescribeBuildOutputMojo.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/artifact/buildinfo/DescribeBuildOutputMojo.java
@@ -218,6 +218,9 @@ private String describeArtifact(Artifact a, boolean skipped) throws MojoExecutio
     }
 
     private String sha256(File file) throws MojoExecutionException {
+        if (file.isDirectory()) {
+            return "directory";
+        }
         try (InputStream is = Files.newInputStream(file.toPath())) {
             return DigestUtils.sha256Hex(is);
         } catch (IOException ioe) {