diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 91caaeba41a9..3d5e366f56db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Lints included in this crate:
  - `clippy_box_vec`: Warns on usage of `Box<Vec<T>>`
  - `clippy_dlist`: Warns on usage of `DList`
  - `clippy_str_to_string`: Warns on usage of `str::to_string()`
+ - `clippy_toplevel_ref_arg`: Warns when a function argument is declared `ref` (i.e. `fn foo(ref x: u8)`, but not `fn foo((ref x, ref y): (u8, u8))`).
 
 More to come, please [file an issue](https://github.com/Manishearth/rust-clippy/issues) if you have ideas!
 
diff --git a/examples/toplevel_ref_arg.rs b/examples/toplevel_ref_arg.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0be737f90288
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/toplevel_ref_arg.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#![feature(phase)]
+
+#[phase(plugin)]
+extern crate rust_clippy;
+
+fn the_answer(ref mut x: u8) {
+  *x = 42;
+}
+
+fn main() {
+  let mut x = 0;
+  the_answer(x);
+  println!("The answer is {}.", x);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 386e8180c22d..9ac74eb2320b 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-#![feature(globs, phase, plugin_registrar)] 
+#![feature(globs, phase, plugin_registrar)]
 
 #![allow(unused_imports)]
 
-#[phase(plugin,link)]
+#[phase(plugin, link)]
 extern crate syntax;
 #[phase(plugin, link)]
 extern crate rustc;
@@ -21,4 +21,5 @@ pub fn plugin_registrar(reg: &mut Registry) {
     reg.register_lint_pass(box types::TypePass as LintPassObject);
     reg.register_lint_pass(box misc::MiscPass as LintPassObject);
     reg.register_lint_pass(box misc::StrToStringPass as LintPassObject);
+    reg.register_lint_pass(box misc::TopLevelRefPass as LintPassObject);
 }
diff --git a/src/misc.rs b/src/misc.rs
index 8c4fbe0597c6..c72f39ba3150 100644
--- a/src/misc.rs
+++ b/src/misc.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use syntax::ptr::P;
 use syntax::ast;
 use syntax::ast::*;
+use syntax::visit::{FnKind};
 use rustc::lint::{Context, LintPass, LintArray, Lint, Level};
 use rustc::middle::ty::{mod, expr_ty, ty_str, ty_ptr, ty_rptr};
 use syntax::codemap::Span;
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ impl LintPass for MiscPass {
                               format!("Try if let {} = {} {{ ... }}",
                                       map.span_to_snippet(arms[0].pats[0].span).unwrap_or("..".to_string()),
                                       map.span_to_snippet(ex.span).unwrap_or("..".to_string())).as_slice()
-                        );                        
+                        );
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -83,3 +84,26 @@ impl LintPass for StrToStringPass {
         }
     }
 }
+
+
+declare_lint!(CLIPPY_TOPLEVEL_REF_ARG, Warn, "Warn about pattern matches with top-level `ref` bindings");
+
+pub struct TopLevelRefPass;
+
+impl LintPass for TopLevelRefPass {
+    fn get_lints(&self) -> LintArray {
+        lint_array!(CLIPPY_TOPLEVEL_REF_ARG)
+    }
+
+    fn check_fn(&mut self, cx: &Context, _: FnKind, decl: &FnDecl, _: &Block, _: Span, _: NodeId) {
+        for ref arg in decl.inputs.iter() {
+            if let PatIdent(BindByRef(_), _, _) = arg.pat.node {
+                cx.span_lint(
+                    CLIPPY_TOPLEVEL_REF_ARG,
+                    arg.pat.span,
+                    "`ref` directly on a function argument is ignored. Have you considered using a reference type instead?"
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}