diff --git a/README.textile b/README.textile
index 5e04f316..168a4b25 100644
--- a/README.textile
+++ b/README.textile
@@ -191,6 +191,10 @@ additional options:
     png_dir:  [PATH]    # Where should the math PNGs be stored?
     png_url:  [URL]     # A relative URL for the PNGs
 
+  exclude:    # This is a YAML array for files in the root directory,
+    - file1   # which should be excluded to be processed into '_site'.
+    - file2   # This can be useful for README, Rakefiles etc.
+
 The default configuration is shown below as in YAML format: 
 
   destination: ./_site
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/site.rb b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
index 622f49ca..71fc811c 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
@@ -230,7 +232,7 @@ 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