diff --git a/tiramisu/config.py b/tiramisu/config.py
index 775845b..d9432fc 100644
--- a/tiramisu/config.py
+++ b/tiramisu/config.py
@@ -394,6 +394,15 @@ class Config(object):
         while self._cfgimpl_parent is not None:
             self = self._cfgimpl_parent
         return self
+    
+    def _cfgimpl_get_path(self):
+        subpath = []
+        obj = self
+        while obj._cfgimpl_parent is not None:
+            subpath.insert(0, obj._cfgimpl_descr._name)
+            obj = obj._cfgimpl_parent
+        return ".".join(subpath)
+
 
     def cfgimpl_previous_value(self, path):
         home, name = self._cfgimpl_get_home_by_path(path)
diff --git a/tiramisu/error.py b/tiramisu/error.py
index 4588f71..1ca0901 100644
--- a/tiramisu/error.py
+++ b/tiramisu/error.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ class MethodCallError(Exception):
     pass 
 class RequiresError(Exception):
     pass    
+class RequirementRecursionError(RequiresError):
+    pass
 class MandatoryError(Exception):
     pass 
 class SpecialOwnersError(Exception):
diff --git a/tiramisu/option.py b/tiramisu/option.py
index 75a2a07..28e33ae 100644
--- a/tiramisu/option.py
+++ b/tiramisu/option.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from tiramisu.autolib import special_owners
 from tiramisu.basetype import HiddenBaseType, DisabledBaseType, ModeBaseType, modes
 from tiramisu.error import (ConfigError, ConflictConfigError, NotFoundError, 
-                   SpecialOwnersError, RequiresError)
+                   SpecialOwnersError, RequiresError, RequirementRecursionError)
 available_actions = ['hide', 'show', 'enable', 'disable'] 
 reverse_actions = {'hide': 'show', 'show': 'hide', 
                    'disable':'enable', 'enable': 'disable'}
@@ -498,6 +498,10 @@ def apply_requires(opt, config):
                     name, expected, action, inverted = req
                     if inverted == 'inverted':
                         inverted = True
+                path = config._cfgimpl_get_path() + '.' + opt._name
+                if name.startswith(path):
+                    raise RequirementRecursionError("malformed requirements imbrication "
+                          "detected for option: '{0}' with requirement on: '{1}'".format(path, name))
                 homeconfig, shortname = \
                                       rootconfig._cfgimpl_get_home_by_path(name)
                 # FIXME: doesn't work with 'auto' or 'fill' yet