diff --git a/mercurial/templater.py b/mercurial/templater.py
--- a/mercurial/templater.py
+++ b/mercurial/templater.py
@@ -226,13 +226,22 @@ def runinteger(context, mapping, data):
 def runstring(context, mapping, data):
     return data
 
+def _recursivesymbolblocker(key):
+    def showrecursion(**args):
+        raise error.Abort(_("recursive reference '%s' in template") % key)
+    return showrecursion
+
 def runsymbol(context, mapping, key):
     v = mapping.get(key)
     if v is None:
         v = context._defaults.get(key)
     if v is None:
+        # put poison to cut recursion. we can't move this to parsing phase
+        # because "x = {x}" is allowed if "x" is a keyword. (issue4758)
+        safemapping = mapping.copy()
+        safemapping[key] = _recursivesymbolblocker(key)
         try:
-            v = context.process(key, mapping)
+            v = context.process(key, safemapping)
         except TemplateNotFound:
             v = ''
     if callable(v):
diff --git a/tests/test-command-template.t b/tests/test-command-template.t
--- a/tests/test-command-template.t
+++ b/tests/test-command-template.t
@@ -1035,6 +1035,33 @@ Include works:
   1
   0
 
+Check that recursive reference does not fall into RuntimeError (issue4758):
+
+ common mistake:
+
+  $ hg log -T '{changeset}\n'
+  abort: recursive reference 'changeset' in template
+  [255]
+
+ circular reference:
+
+  $ cat << EOF > issue4758
+  > changeset = '{foo}'
+  > foo = '{changeset}'
+  > EOF
+  $ hg log --style ./issue4758
+  abort: recursive reference 'foo' in template
+  [255]
+
+ not a recursion if a keyword of the same name exists:
+
+  $ cat << EOF > issue4758
+  > changeset = '{tags % rev}'
+  > rev = '{rev} {tag}\n'
+  > EOF
+  $ hg log --style ./issue4758 -r tip
+  8 tip
+
 Check that {phase} works correctly on parents:
 
   $ cat << EOF > parentphase