diff --git a/lib/jekyll/site.rb b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
index 2f714e93..1f0f7b75 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/site.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ module Jekyll
     def setup
       require 'classifier' if self.lsi
 
+      # Check that the destination dir isn't the source dir or a directory
+      # parent to the source dir.
+      if self.source =~ /^#{self.dest}/
+        raise FatalException.new "Destination directory cannot be or contain the Source directory."
+      end
+
       # If safe mode is off, load in any Ruby files under the plugins
       # directory.
       unless self.safe
diff --git a/test/test_site.rb b/test/test_site.rb
index c0e70942..03f1886e 100644
--- a/test/test_site.rb
+++ b/test/test_site.rb
@@ -166,6 +166,28 @@ class TestSite < Test::Unit::TestCase
       assert_equal files, @site.filter_entries(files)
     end
 
+    context 'error handling' do
+      should "raise if destination is included in source" do
+        stub(Jekyll).configuration do
+          Jekyll::DEFAULTS.merge({'source' => source_dir, 'destination' => source_dir})
+        end
+
+        assert_raise Jekyll::FatalException do
+          site = Site.new(Jekyll.configuration)
+        end
+      end
+
+      should "raise if destination is source" do
+        stub(Jekyll).configuration do
+          Jekyll::DEFAULTS.merge({'source' => source_dir, 'destination' => File.join(source_dir, "..")})
+        end
+
+        assert_raise Jekyll::FatalException do
+          site = Site.new(Jekyll.configuration)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     context 'with orphaned files in destination' do
       setup do
         clear_dest