diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
index 6d028481ca..4709420e35 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
@@ -769,6 +769,9 @@ public abstract class AbstractBeanFactory extends FactoryBeanRegistrySupport imp
 		if (this.parentBeanFactory != null && this.parentBeanFactory != parentBeanFactory) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Already associated with parent BeanFactory: " + this.parentBeanFactory);
 		}
+		if(this == parentBeanFactory) {
+			throw new IllegalStateException("Can not set parent bean factory to self.");
+		}
 		this.parentBeanFactory = parentBeanFactory;
 	}