diff --git a/datafusion/sql/src/planner.rs b/datafusion/sql/src/planner.rs
index ef57be27f338..31aa50cdfd5a 100644
--- a/datafusion/sql/src/planner.rs
+++ b/datafusion/sql/src/planner.rs
@@ -354,6 +354,12 @@ impl<'a, S: ContextProvider> SqlToRel<'a, S> {
         if let Some(with) = query.with {
             // Process CTEs from top to bottom
             // do not allow self-references
+            if with.recursive {
+                return Err(DataFusionError::NotImplemented(
+                    "Recursive CTEs are not supported".to_string(),
+                ));
+            }
+
             for cte in with.cte_tables {
                 // A `WITH` block can't use the same name more than once
                 let cte_name = normalize_ident(&cte.alias.name);
@@ -3530,6 +3536,22 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn recursive_ctes() {
+        let sql = "
+        WITH RECURSIVE numbers AS (
+              select 1 as n
+            UNION ALL
+              select n + 1 FROM numbers WHERE N < 10
+        )
+        select * from numbers;";
+        let err = logical_plan(sql).expect_err("query should have failed");
+        assert_eq!(
+            r#"NotImplemented("Recursive CTEs are not supported")"#,
+            format!("{:?}", err)
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn select_array_non_literal_type() {
         let sql = "SELECT [now()]";