diff --git a/include/client.hpp b/include/client.hpp
index af6eeef7..a54bf4b4 100644
--- a/include/client.hpp
+++ b/include/client.hpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class Client {
   const std::string        getValidPath(const std::vector<std::string> &paths) const;
   void                     handleOutput(struct waybar_output &output);
   bool                     isValidOutput(const Json::Value &config, struct waybar_output &output);
-  auto                     setupConfig(const std::string &config_file) -> void;
+  auto                     setupConfig(const std::string &config_file, int depth) -> void;
   auto                     mergeConfig(Json::Value &a_config_, Json::Value &b_config_) -> void;
   auto                     setupCss(const std::string &css_file) -> void;
   struct waybar_output &   getOutput(void *);
diff --git a/src/client.cpp b/src/client.cpp
index 7f3229cf..07c0b23d 100644
--- a/src/client.cpp
+++ b/src/client.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,10 @@ std::tuple<const std::string, const std::string> waybar::Client::getConfigs(
   return {config_file, css_file};
 }
 
-auto waybar::Client::setupConfig(const std::string &config_file) -> void {
+auto waybar::Client::setupConfig(const std::string &config_file, int depth) -> void {
+  if (depth > 100) {
+    throw std::runtime_error("Aborting due to likely recursive include in config files");
+  }
   std::ifstream file(config_file);
   if (!file.is_open()) {
     throw std::runtime_error("Can't open config file");
@@ -245,7 +248,7 @@ auto waybar::Client::setupConfig(const std::string &config_file) -> void {
   if (tmp_config_["include"].isArray()) {
     for (const auto &include : tmp_config_["include"]) {
       spdlog::info("Including resource file: {}", include.asString());
-      setupConfig(getValidPath({include.asString()}));
+      setupConfig(getValidPath({include.asString()}), ++depth);
     }
   }
   mergeConfig(config_, tmp_config_);
@@ -337,7 +340,7 @@ int waybar::Client::main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   }
   wl_display = gdk_wayland_display_get_wl_display(gdk_display->gobj());
   auto [config_file, css_file] = getConfigs(config, style);
-  setupConfig(config_file);
+  setupConfig(config_file, 0);
   setupCss(css_file);
   bindInterfaces();
   gtk_app->hold();