diff --git a/lib/jekyll/site.rb b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
index a0cdffd4..97b7b677 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/site.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
@@ -88,7 +88,8 @@ module Jekyll
     # Copy all regular files from <source> to <dest>/ ignoring
     # any files/directories that are hidden or backup files (start
     # with "." or end with "~") or contain site content (start with "_")
-    # unless they are "_posts" directories
+    # unless they are "_posts" directories or web server files such as
+    # '.htaccess'
     #   The +dir+ String is a relative path used to call this method
     #            recursively as it descends through directories
     #
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ module Jekyll
       entries = Dir.entries(base)
       entries = entries.reject { |e| e[-1..-1] == '~' }
       entries = entries.reject do |e|
-        (e != '_posts') and ['.', '_'].include?(e[0..0])
+        (e != '_posts') and ['.', '_'].include?(e[0..0]) unless ['.htaccess'].include?(e)
       end
 
       # we need to make sure to process _posts *first* otherwise they