diff --git a/src/internal/file_operations.go b/src/internal/file_operations.go
index 8632512a..3019d443 100644
--- a/src/internal/file_operations.go
+++ b/src/internal/file_operations.go
@@ -46,6 +46,30 @@ func getDriveLetter(path string) string {
 	return strings.ToUpper(string(path[0]))
 }
 
+// isSubDir check if a path is inside another path to prevent unwanted recursive operations
+func isSubDir(src string, dst string) (bool, error) {
+	absSrc, err := filepath.Abs(src)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	absDst, err := filepath.Abs(filepath.Dir(dst))
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	rel, err := filepath.Rel(absSrc, absDst)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if rel == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(rel, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	return true, nil
+
+}
+
 // moveElement moves a file or directory efficiently
 func moveElement(src, dst string) error {
 	// Check if source and destination are on the same partition
diff --git a/src/internal/handle_file_operations.go b/src/internal/handle_file_operations.go
index 98f47800..f8fcd22d 100644
--- a/src/internal/handle_file_operations.go
+++ b/src/internal/handle_file_operations.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package internal
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
@@ -470,10 +471,18 @@ func (m *model) pasteItem() {
 		}
 
 		errMessage := "cut item error"
-		if m.copyItems.cut && !isExternalDiskPath(filePath) {
-			err = moveElement(filePath, filepath.Join(panel.location, filepath.Base(filePath)))
+
+		dstPath := filepath.Join(panel.location, filepath.Base(filePath))
+		subDir, err := isSubDir(filePath, dstPath)
+
+		if err != nil {
+			// cannot compare source and destination paths, so just fail with the given error
+		} else if subDir {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("failed to paste: cannot paste item, '%s', into itself, %s", filePath, dstPath)
+		} else if m.copyItems.cut && !isExternalDiskPath(filePath) {
+			err = moveElement(filePath, dstPath)
 		} else {
-			err = pasteDir(filePath, filepath.Join(panel.location, filepath.Base(filePath)), id, m)
+			err = pasteDir(filePath, dstPath, id, m)
 			if err != nil {
 				errMessage = "paste item error"
 			} else {