This paper deals with the issue of trajectory tracking control of a hydraulic excavator using disturbance observer in order to compensate external disturbances occuring from coupling between attachment, asymmetry of a single rod cylinder, and deadzone of main control valve. Disturbance compensation control system with disturbance observer has been constructed for the boom and arm respectively. Simulation results were compared with experimental results to validate the computer simulation system of hydraulic excavator itself. Computer simulation shows that disturbance compensation control is effective for compensating system nonlinearity and thus improves positioning accuracy and trajectory tracking performance. Steady state error has been decreased by adding PI controller to this control scheme.