diff --git a/features/site_configuration.feature b/features/site_configuration.feature
index 7d8a3885..0c59a2b9 100644
--- a/features/site_configuration.feature
+++ b/features/site_configuration.feature
@@ -18,6 +18,16 @@ Feature: Site configuration
     Then the _mysite directory should exist
     And I should see "Changing destination directory" in "_mysite/index.html"
 
+  Scenario: Exclude files
+    Given I have an "Rakefile" file that contains "I want to be excluded"
+    And I have an "README" file that contains "I want to be excluded"
+    And I have an "index.html" file that contains "I want to be included"
+    And I have a configuration file with "exclude" set to "Rakefile", "README"
+    When I run jekyll
+    Then I should see "I want to be included" in "_site/index.html"
+    And the "_site/Rakefile" file should not exist
+    And the "_site/README" file should not exist
+
   Scenario: Use RDiscount for markup
     Given I have an "index.markdown" page that contains "[Google](http://google.com)"
     And I have a configuration file with "markdown" set to "rdiscount"
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/site.rb b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
index 7b41c900..1ed3836a 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/site.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module Jekyll
 
   class Site
-    attr_accessor :config, :layouts, :posts, :categories
+    attr_accessor :config, :layouts, :posts, :categories, :exclude
     attr_accessor :source, :dest, :lsi, :pygments, :permalink_style
 
     # Initialize the site
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ module Jekyll
       self.pygments        = config['pygments']
       self.permalink_style = config['permalink'].to_sym
 
+      self.exclude         = config['exclude'] || []
+
       self.reset
       self.setup
     end
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@ module Jekyll
       entries = entries.reject do |e|
         unless ['_posts', '.htaccess'].include?(e)
           # Reject backup/hidden
-          ['.', '_', '#'].include?(e[0..0]) or e[-1..-1] == '~'
+          ['.', '_', '#'].include?(e[0..0]) or e[-1..-1] == '~' or self.exclude.include?(e)
         end
       end
     end