diff --git a/src/common.js b/src/common.js
index 1f6111ff..f51aff91 100644
--- a/src/common.js
+++ b/src/common.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ function sanitizeAppName (name) {
 }
 
 function generateFinalBasename (opts) {
-  return `${sanitizeAppName(opts.name)}-${opts.platform}-${opts.arch}`
+  return `${sanitizeAppName(opts.basename || opts.name)}-${opts.platform}-${opts.arch}`
 }
 
 function generateFinalPath (opts) {
diff --git a/src/copy-filter.js b/src/copy-filter.js
index ddfc6089..a24c1cac 100644
--- a/src/copy-filter.js
+++ b/src/copy-filter.js
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ function generateIgnoredOutDirs (opts) {
       for (const arch of archs) {
         const basenameOpts = {
           arch: arch,
+          basename: opts.basename,
           name: opts.name,
           platform: platform
         }
diff --git a/src/index.d.ts b/src/index.d.ts
index 5a2b63ed..19e7b6f7 100644
--- a/src/index.d.ts
+++ b/src/index.d.ts
@@ -463,6 +463,14 @@ declare namespace electronPackager {
      * **Note:** `junk` will have no effect if the {@link prebuiltAsar} option is set.
      */
     junk?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * The base folder ${basename}-${platform}-${arch}. If omitted, it will use the `productName` or `name` value from the
+     * nearest `package.json`.
+     *
+     * **Regardless of source, characters in the Electron app name which are not allowed in all target
+     * platforms' filenames (e.g., `/`), will be replaced by hyphens (`-`).**
+     */
+    basename?: string;
     /**
      * The application name. If omitted, it will use the `productName` or `name` value from the
      * nearest `package.json`.
diff --git a/test/basic.js b/test/basic.js
index 98934a2a..b3dd8f79 100644
--- a/test/basic.js
+++ b/test/basic.js
@@ -59,6 +59,16 @@ test('sanitize app name for use in the out directory name', t => {
   t.is(common.generateFinalBasename(opts), '@username-package-name-linux-x64', 'generateFinalBasename output should be sanitized')
 })
 
+test('basename should be used in the out directory name', t => {
+  const opts = {
+    arch: 'x64',
+    name: 'app name',
+    basename: 'myapp',
+    platform: 'linux'
+  }
+  t.is(common.generateFinalBasename(opts), 'myapp-linux-x64', 'generateFinalBasename output should use basename over name')
+})
+
 test('cannot build apps where the name ends in " Helper"', async t => {
   const opts = {
     arch: 'x64',