diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/rename.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/rename.pm
index fd0bd3ae8..126c7ba13 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/rename.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/rename.pm
@@ -47,8 +47,9 @@ sub check_canrename ($$$$$$$) { #{{{
 			error(gettext("no change to the file name was specified"));
 		}
 
-		# Must be a legal filename.	
-		if (IkiWiki::file_pruned($destfile, $config{srcdir})) {
+		# Must be a legal filename, and not absolute.
+		if (IkiWiki::file_pruned($destfile, $config{srcdir}) || 
+		    $destfile=~/^\//) {
 			error(sprintf(gettext("illegal name")));
 		}