diff --git a/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java b/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java
index df82d1539..90a5d899b 100644
--- a/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java
+++ b/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java
@@ -656,6 +656,9 @@ public PdfPCell addCell(String text) {
      * @param table the table to be added to the cell
      */
     public PdfPCell addCell(PdfPTable table) {
+        if(table == this) {
+    		throw new DocumentException("unable.to.add.self.to.table.contents");
+    	}
         defaultCell.setTable(table);
         addCell(defaultCell);
         defaultCell.setTable(null);