diff --git a/unittest/error-l2xc8.yaml b/unittest/error-l2xc8.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3e5c7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unittest/error-l2xc8.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+test:
+  description: "L2 cross connect source and target cannot be the same"
+  errors:
+    expected:
+     - "interface .* l2xc target cannot be itself"
+     - "sub-interface .* l2xc target cannot be itself"
+    count: 2
+---
+interfaces:
+  GigabitEthernet1/0/0:
+    l2xc: GigabitEthernet1/0/0
+
+  GigabitEthernet2/0/0:
+    sub-interfaces:
+      100:
+        l2xc: GigabitEthernet2/0/0.100
diff --git a/validator/interface.py b/validator/interface.py
index 454b8f6..308b712 100644
--- a/validator/interface.py
+++ b/validator/interface.py
@@ -393,6 +393,9 @@ def validate_interfaces(yaml):
             if not get_by_name(yaml, iface['l2xc']):
                 msgs.append("interface %s l2xc target %s does not exist" % (ifname, iface['l2xc']))
                 result = False
+            if iface['l2xc'] == ifname:
+                msgs.append("interface %s l2xc target cannot be itself" % (ifname))
+                result = False
             target_mtu = get_mtu(yaml, iface['l2xc'])
             if target_mtu != iface_mtu:
                 msgs.append("interface %s l2xc target MTU %d does not match source MTU %d" % (ifname, target_mtu, iface_mtu))
@@ -459,6 +462,9 @@ def validate_interfaces(yaml):
                     if not get_by_name(yaml, sub_iface['l2xc']):
                         msgs.append("sub-interface %s l2xc target %s does not exist" % (sub_ifname, sub_iface['l2xc']))
                         result = False
+                    if sub_iface['l2xc'] == sub_ifname:
+                        msgs.append("sub-interface %s l2xc target cannot be itself" % (sub_ifname))
+                        result = False
                     target_mtu = get_mtu(yaml, sub_iface['l2xc'])
                     if target_mtu != sub_mtu:
                         msgs.append("sub-interface %s l2xc target MTU %d does not match source MTU %d" % (ifname, target_mtu, sub_mtu))