diff --git a/includes/common.inc b/includes/common.inc
index ea1139eee57..4812e3e528f 100644
--- a/includes/common.inc
+++ b/includes/common.inc
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ function throttle($type, $rate) {
   }
 }
 
+function check_php_setting($name, $value) {
+  if (ini_get($name) != $value) {
+    print "<p>Note tat the value of PHP's configuration option <code><b>$name</b></code> is incorrect.  It should be set to '$value' for Drupal to work properly.  Either configure your webserver to support <code>.htaccess</code> files so Drupal's <code>.htaccess</code> file can set it to the proper value, or edit your <code>php.ini</code> file directly.  This message will automatically dissapear when the problem has been fixed.</p>";
+  }
+}
+
 function array2object($node) {
 
   if (is_array($node)) {
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 0cd82ebec7d..f92caa3d07c 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ include_once "includes/common.inc";
 
 page_header();
 
+check_php_setting("magic_quotes_gpc", 0);
+
 if (module_hook(variable_get("site_frontpage", "node"), "page")) {
   module_invoke(variable_get("site_frontpage", "node"), "page");
 }