Aligned and randomly oriented chitosan nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning. The fibers were modified with the RGD cell-adhesive peptide through a heterobifunctional crosslinker containing a segment of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). PEG rendered the surface hydrophilic and provided flexible spacers, allowing the preservation of the bioactivity of further captured RGD peptides. NIH 3T3 cells were used to test the cellular compatibility of these chitosan nanofibrous scaffolds. Cell morphology and viability were investigated by SEM, fluorescent staining and cell counting. The results indicate that RGD-modified surfaces significantly improve the cellular compatibility of chitosan nanofibers and suggest a good candidate as a scaffold employed in tissue engineering.