diff --git a/lib/jekyll.rb b/lib/jekyll.rb
index 7928850c..59cd1dec 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll.rb
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@ module Jekyll
         'coderay_bold_every'        => 10,
         'coderay_css'               => 'style'
       }
+    },
+    'redcloth'        => {
+      'hard_breaks'   => true
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/converters/textile.rb b/lib/jekyll/converters/textile.rb
index 072e393a..21e1ab49 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/converters/textile.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/converters/textile.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ module Jekyll
 
     def convert(content)
       setup
-      RedCloth.new(content).to_html
+      r = RedCloth.new(content)
+      if !@config['redcloth']['hard_breaks']
+        r.hard_breaks = false
+      end
+      r.to_html
     end
   end