diff --git a/mysql-test/suite/innodb/r/innodb_bug12902967.result b/mysql-test/suite/innodb/r/innodb_bug12902967.result
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b20710f08fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mysql-test/suite/innodb/r/innodb_bug12902967.result
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+create table t1 (f1 integer primary key) engine innodb;
+alter table t1 add constraint c1 foreign key (f1) references t1(f1);
+ERROR HY000: Error on rename of '#sql-temporary' to './test/t1' (errno: 150)
+InnoDB: which are not compatible with the new table definition.
+InnoDB: has or is referenced in foreign key constraints
+drop table t1;
diff --git a/mysql-test/suite/innodb/t/innodb_bug12902967.test b/mysql-test/suite/innodb/t/innodb_bug12902967.test
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..87e648c2726
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mysql-test/suite/innodb/t/innodb_bug12902967.test
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Bug 12902967: Creating self referencing fk on same index unhandled,
+# confusing error
+#
+# Creating a self referencing foreign key on the same
+# column/index is an unhandled exception, it should throw a sensible
+# error but instead implies that your data dictionary may now be out
+# of sync:
+
+--source include/have_innodb.inc
+
+let error_log= $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/log/mysqld.1.err;
+--remove_file $error_log
+--source include/restart_mysqld.inc
+
+create table t1 (f1 integer primary key) engine innodb;
+
+# The below statement should produce error message in error log.
+# This error message should mention problem with foreign keys
+# rather than with data dictionary.
+--replace_regex /'\.\/test\/#sql-[0-9a-f_]*'/'#sql-temporary'/
+--error ER_ERROR_ON_RENAME
+alter table t1 add constraint c1 foreign key (f1) references t1(f1);
+
+perl;
+
+$file = "$ENV{'error_log'}";
+open ( FILE, $file) || die "can't open file! ($file)\n";
+@lines = <FILE>;
+close (FILE);
+$count = 0; 
+foreach $line (reverse @lines) {
+    if ($line =~ "^InnoDB:") { 
+       ++$count; 
+       print "$line"; 
+       if ($count == 2) {
+          break;
+       }
+    }
+}
+EOF
+
+drop table t1;
diff --git a/sql/sql_table.cc b/sql/sql_table.cc
index 0f4bac47cab..c146079fdb3 100644
--- a/sql/sql_table.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_table.cc
@@ -246,10 +246,17 @@ uint explain_filename(THD* thd,
       {
         part_name_len= tmp_p - part_name - 1;
         subpart_name= tmp_p + 3;
+	tmp_p+= 3;
+      }
+      else if ((tmp_p[1] == 'Q' || tmp_p[1] == 'q') &&
+               (tmp_p[2] == 'L' || tmp_p[2] == 'l') &&
+                tmp_p[3] == '-')
+      {
+        name_type= TEMP;
+        tmp_p+= 4; /* sql- prefix found */
       }
       else
         res= 2;
-      tmp_p+= 3;
       break;
     case 'T':
     case 't':
@@ -6718,21 +6725,47 @@ bool mysql_alter_table(THD *thd,char *new_db, char *new_name,
     (void) quick_rm_table(new_db_type, new_db, tmp_name, FN_IS_TMP);
   }
   else if (mysql_rename_table(new_db_type, new_db, tmp_name, new_db,
-                              new_alias, FN_FROM_IS_TMP) ||
-           ((new_name != table_name || new_db != db) && // we also do rename
-           (need_copy_table != ALTER_TABLE_METADATA_ONLY ||
-            mysql_rename_table(save_old_db_type, db, table_name, new_db,
-                               new_alias, NO_FRM_RENAME)) &&
-           Table_triggers_list::change_table_name(thd, db, alias, table_name,
-                                                  new_db, new_alias)))
+                              new_alias, FN_FROM_IS_TMP))
   {
     /* Try to get everything back. */
-    error=1;
-    (void) quick_rm_table(new_db_type,new_db,new_alias, 0);
+    error= 1;
     (void) quick_rm_table(new_db_type, new_db, tmp_name, FN_IS_TMP);
     (void) mysql_rename_table(old_db_type, db, old_name, db, alias,
                             FN_FROM_IS_TMP);
   }
+  else if (new_name != table_name || new_db != db)
+  {
+    if (need_copy_table == ALTER_TABLE_METADATA_ONLY &&
+        mysql_rename_table(save_old_db_type, db, table_name, new_db,
+                           new_alias, NO_FRM_RENAME))
+    {
+      /* Try to get everything back. */
+      error= 1;
+      (void) quick_rm_table(new_db_type, new_db, new_alias, 0);
+      (void) mysql_rename_table(old_db_type, db, old_name, db, alias,
+                                FN_FROM_IS_TMP);
+    }
+    else if (Table_triggers_list::change_table_name(thd, db, alias, 
+                                                    table_name, new_db, 
+                                                    new_alias))
+    {
+      /* Try to get everything back. */
+      error= 1;
+      (void) quick_rm_table(new_db_type, new_db, new_alias, 0);
+      (void) mysql_rename_table(old_db_type, db, old_name, db,
+                                alias, FN_FROM_IS_TMP);
+      /*
+        If we were performing "fast"/in-place ALTER TABLE we also need
+        to restore old name of table in storage engine as a separate
+        step, as the above rename affects .FRM only.
+      */
+      if (need_copy_table == ALTER_TABLE_METADATA_ONLY)
+      {
+        (void) mysql_rename_table(save_old_db_type, new_db, new_alias,
+                                  db, table_name, NO_FRM_RENAME); 
+      }
+    }
+  }
 
   if (! error)
     (void) quick_rm_table(old_db_type, db, old_name, FN_IS_TMP);