diff --git a/bin/jekyll b/bin/jekyll
index f5d82931..a32e8112 100755
--- a/bin/jekyll
+++ b/bin/jekyll
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ command :new do |c|
   c.description = 'Creates a new Jekyll site scaffold in PATH'
 
   c.option '--force', 'Force creation even if PATH already exists'
+  c.option '--blank', 'Creates scaffolding but with empty files'
 
   c.action do |args, options|
     Jekyll::Commands::New.process(args, options.__hash__)
diff --git a/features/create_sites.feature b/features/create_sites.feature
index 24e669bc..346c0350 100644
--- a/features/create_sites.feature
+++ b/features/create_sites.feature
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@ Feature: Create sites
   I want to be able to make a static site
   In order to share my awesome ideas with the interwebs
 
+  Scenario: Blank site
+    Given I do not have a "test_blank" directory
+    When I call jekyll new with test_blank --blank
+    Then the test_blank/_layouts directory should exist
+    And the test_blank/_posts directory should exist
+    And the "test_blank/index.html" file should exist
+
   Scenario: Basic site
     Given I have an "index.html" file that contains "Basic Site"
     When I run jekyll
diff --git a/features/step_definitions/jekyll_steps.rb b/features/step_definitions/jekyll_steps.rb
index 626a58a5..c1f4347f 100644
--- a/features/step_definitions/jekyll_steps.rb
+++ b/features/step_definitions/jekyll_steps.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ Given /^I have a blank site in "(.*)"$/ do |path|
   FileUtils.mkdir(path)
 end
 
+Given /^I do not have a "(.*)" directory$/ do |path|
+  File.directory?("#{TEST_DIR}/#{path}")
+end
+
 # Like "I have a foo file" but gives a yaml front matter so jekyll actually processes it
 Given /^I have an? "(.*)" page(?: with (.*) "(.*)")? that contains "(.*)"$/ do |file, key, value, text|
   File.open(file, 'w') do |f|
@@ -113,6 +117,10 @@ When /^I run jekyll with drafts$/ do
   run_jekyll(:drafts => true)
 end
 
+When /^I call jekyll new with test_blank --blank$/ do
+  call_jekyll_new(:path => "test_blank", :blank => true)
+end
+
 When /^I debug jekyll$/ do
   run_jekyll(:debug => true)
 end
diff --git a/features/support/env.rb b/features/support/env.rb
index a7588d98..efe6b1b6 100644
--- a/features/support/env.rb
+++ b/features/support/env.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@ def run_jekyll(opts = {})
   system command
 end
 
+def call_jekyll_new(opts = {})
+  command = JEKYLL_PATH.clone
+  command << " new"
+  command << " #{opts[:path]}" if opts[:path]
+  command << " --blank" if opts[:blank]
+  command << " >> /dev/null 2>&1" if opts[:debug].nil?
+  system command
+end
+
 def slug(title)
   title.downcase.gsub(/[^\w]/, " ").strip.gsub(/\s+/, '-')
 end
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb b/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb
index c1aa3eef..8757a91b 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/commands/new.rb
@@ -13,14 +13,26 @@ module Jekyll
           exit(1)
         end
 
-        create_sample_files new_blog_path
+        if options[:blank]
+          create_blank_site new_blog_path
+        else
+          create_sample_files new_blog_path
 
-        File.open(File.expand_path(self.initialized_post_name, new_blog_path), "w") do |f|
-          f.write(self.scaffold_post_content(site_template))
+          File.open(File.expand_path(self.initialized_post_name, new_blog_path), "w") do |f|
+            f.write(self.scaffold_post_content(site_template))
+          end
         end
+
         puts "New jekyll site installed in #{new_blog_path}."
       end
 
+      def self.create_blank_site(path)
+        Dir.chdir(path) do
+          FileUtils.mkdir(%w(_layouts _posts _drafts))
+          FileUtils.touch("index.html")
+        end
+      end
+
       def self.scaffold_post_content(template_site)
         ERB.new(File.read(File.expand_path(scaffold_path, site_template))).result
       end