diff --git a/src/con.c b/src/con.c
index 1d2795c3..b74d0ce1 100644
--- a/src/con.c
+++ b/src/con.c
@@ -955,8 +955,8 @@ bool con_move_to_mark(Con *con, const char *mark) {
         target = TAILQ_FIRST(&(target->focus_head));
     }
 
-    if (con == target) {
-        DLOG("cannot move the container to itself, aborting.\n");
+    if (con == target || con == target->parent) {
+        DLOG("cannot move the container to or inside itself, aborting.\n");
         return false;
     }