diff --git a/maxctrl/lib/alter.js b/maxctrl/lib/alter.js
index 6cabfc124..c5c8b8aba 100644
--- a/maxctrl/lib/alter.js
+++ b/maxctrl/lib/alter.js
@@ -192,6 +192,10 @@ exports.builder = function(yargs) {
         }, function(argv) {
             maxctrl(argv, function(host) {
 
+                if (argv.u == argv.name) {
+                    return error('Cannot alter current user')
+                }
+
                 var user = {
                     'data': {
                         'id': argv.name,
diff --git a/maxctrl/test/alter.js b/maxctrl/test/alter.js
index 2102eeca8..7cebf21a3 100644
--- a/maxctrl/test/alter.js
+++ b/maxctrl/test/alter.js
@@ -195,6 +195,11 @@ describe("Alter Commands", function() {
             .should.be.rejected
     })
 
+    it('rejects alteration to current user', function() {
+        return doCommand('-u bob -p bob alter user bob bob2')
+            .should.be.rejected
+    })
+
     it('creates user', function() {
         return verifyCommand('create user testuser test', 'users/inet/testuser')
     })