diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d974f357..e0a75bb1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 - New `unsafe_contents_md` property in the text component to allow rendering markdown with embedded HTML tags.
 - New `_sqlpage_footer` property for table rows. When applied, that row will be rendered as the table footer. It is recommended to use this on the last data row.
 - New `freeze_footers` property in table component. If the footer is enabled, this will make it always visible. Works similarly to `freeze_headers`.
+- Hidden files and folders (those with a name starting with a `.`) are now inaccessible. This allows you to easily create internal files to use with `sqlpage.run_sql(...)` that will not be directly accessible.
 
 ## 0.33.1 (2025-02-25)
 
diff --git a/examples/official-site/sqlpage/migrations/38_run_sql.sql b/examples/official-site/sqlpage/migrations/38_run_sql.sql
index be123213..4db6a7e8 100644
--- a/examples/official-site/sqlpage/migrations/38_run_sql.sql
+++ b/examples/official-site/sqlpage/migrations/38_run_sql.sql
@@ -27,7 +27,12 @@ select ''dynamic'' as component, sqlpage.run_sql(''common_header.sql'') as prope
 #### Notes
 
  - **recursion**: you can use `run_sql` to include a file that itself includes another file, and so on. However, be careful to avoid infinite loops. SQLPage will throw an error if the inclusion depth is superior to `max_recursion_depth` (10 by default).
- - **security**: be careful when using `run_sql` to include files. Never use `run_sql` with a user-provided parameter. Never run a file uploaded by a user, or a file that is not under your control.
+ - **security**: be careful when using `run_sql` to include files. 
+    - Never use `run_sql` with a user-provided parameter. 
+    - Never run a file uploaded by a user, or a file that is not under your control.
+    - Remember that users can also run the files you include with `sqlpage.run_sql(...)` directly just by loading the file in the browser.
+        - Make sure this does not allow users to bypass security measures you put in place such as [access control](/component.sql?component=authentication).
+        - If you need to include a file, but make it inaccessible to users, you can use hidden files and folders (starting with a `.`), or put files in the special `sqlpage/` folder that is not accessible to users.
  - **variables**: the included file will have access to the same variables (URL parameters, POST variables, etc.)
    as the calling file.
    If the included file changes the value of a variable or creates a new variable, the change will not be visible in the calling file.
diff --git a/src/filesystem.rs b/src/filesystem.rs
index 22fcd61e..f9d51422 100644
--- a/src/filesystem.rs
+++ b/src/filesystem.rs
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ impl FileSystem {
                             status: actix_web::http::StatusCode::FORBIDDEN,
                         });
                     }
+                    if c.as_encoded_bytes().starts_with(b".") {
+                        anyhow::bail!(ErrorWithStatus {
+                            status: actix_web::http::StatusCode::FORBIDDEN,
+                        });
+                    }
                 } else {
                     anyhow::bail!(
                     "Unsupported path: {path:?}. Path component '{component:?}' is not allowed."
diff --git a/tests/.hidden.sql b/tests/.hidden.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7631239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/.hidden.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+select 'text' as component, 'This is a hidden file that should not be accessible' as contents; 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/index.rs b/tests/index.rs
index 1f1dee8b..7e5dfcaa 100644
--- a/tests/index.rs
+++ b/tests/index.rs
@@ -880,6 +880,22 @@ async fn test_request_body_base64() -> actix_web::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[actix_web::test]
+async fn test_hidden_files() {
+    let resp_result = req_path("/tests/.hidden.sql").await;
+    assert!(
+        resp_result.is_err(),
+        "Accessing a hidden file should be forbidden, but received success: {resp_result:?}"
+    );
+    let resp = resp_result.unwrap_err().error_response();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), http::StatusCode::FORBIDDEN);
+    assert!(
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&resp.into_body().try_into_bytes().unwrap())
+            .to_lowercase()
+            .contains("forbidden"),
+    );
+}
+
 async fn get_request_to_with_data(
     path: &str,
     data: actix_web::web::Data<AppState>,