diff --git a/lib/asdf.sh b/lib/asdf.sh
index 7ad83741e..f43aae581 100644
--- a/lib/asdf.sh
+++ b/lib/asdf.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ asdf() {
     ;;
   *)
     # forward other commands to asdf script
-    command asdf "$command" "$@"
+    command asdf "$command" "$@" # asdf_allow: ' asdf '
     ;;
 
   esac
diff --git a/lib/commands/reshim.bash b/lib/commands/reshim.bash
index be6fd655a..0c0fb52aa 100644
--- a/lib/commands/reshim.bash
+++ b/lib/commands/reshim.bash
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ write_shim_script() {
     cat <<EOF >"$shim_path"
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # asdf-plugin: ${plugin_name} ${version}
-exec $(asdf_dir)/bin/asdf exec "${executable_name}" "\$@"
+exec $(asdf_dir)/bin/asdf exec "${executable_name}" "\$@" # asdf_allow: ' asdf '
 EOF
   fi
 
diff --git a/test/banned_commands.bats b/test/banned_commands.bats
index 360354af3..d2a81f868 100644
--- a/test/banned_commands.bats
+++ b/test/banned_commands.bats
@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@ banned_commands_regex=(
     # match certain filename patterns.
     # https://github-wiki-see.page/m/koalaman/shellcheck/wiki/SC2012
     '\bls '
+
+    # Ban recusive asdf calls as they are inefficient and may introduce bugs.
+    # If you find yourself needing to invoke an `asdf` command from within
+    # asdf code, please source the appropriate file and invoke the
+    # corresponding function.
+    '\basdf '
 )
 
 setup() {