diff --git a/react-native-cli/index.js b/react-native-cli/index.js
index 871a78b98..d8dc54757 100755
--- a/react-native-cli/index.js
+++ b/react-native-cli/index.js
@@ -65,6 +65,15 @@ function validatePackageName(name) {
     );
     process.exit(1);
   }
+
+  if (name === 'React') {
+    console.error(
+      '"%s" is not a valid name for a project. Please do not use the ' +
+        'reserved word "React".',
+      name
+    );
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
 }
 
 function init(name) {