diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/LocalPlayer.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/LocalPlayer.java
index dbcfaa9a1..4fa98c7aa 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/LocalPlayer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/LocalPlayer.java
@@ -456,6 +456,19 @@ public abstract class LocalPlayer {
      */
     public abstract int getItemInHand();
 
+    /**
+     * Get the Block that the player is holding.
+     *
+     * @return the item id of the item the player is holding
+     */
+    public BaseBlock getBlockInHand() throws WorldEditException {
+        final int typeId = getItemInHand();
+        if (!getWorld().isValidBlockType(typeId)) {
+            throw new NotABlockException(typeId);
+        }
+        return new BaseBlock(typeId);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get the name of the player.
      *
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/NotABlockException.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/NotABlockException.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..06d045109
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/NotABlockException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// $Id$
+/*
+ * WorldEdit
+ * Copyright (C) 2010, 2011 sk89q <http://www.sk89q.com> and contributors
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+package com.sk89q.worldedit;
+
+public class NotABlockException extends WorldEditException {
+    public NotABlockException() {
+        super("This item is not a block.");
+    }
+
+    public NotABlockException(String type) {
+        super("The item '"+type+"' is not a block.");
+    }
+
+    public NotABlockException(int typeId) {
+        super("The item with the ID "+typeId+" is not a block.");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitPlayer.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitPlayer.java
index b137e6441..7374105e7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitPlayer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitPlayer.java
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 package com.sk89q.worldedit.bukkit;
 
+import com.sk89q.worldedit.WorldEditException;
+import com.sk89q.worldedit.blocks.BaseBlock;
 import org.bukkit.GameMode;
 import org.bukkit.Location;
 import org.bukkit.entity.Player;
@@ -49,6 +51,11 @@ public class BukkitPlayer extends LocalPlayer {
         return itemStack != null ? itemStack.getTypeId() : 0;
     }
 
+    public BaseBlock getBlockInHand() throws WorldEditException {
+        ItemStack itemStack = player.getItemInHand();
+        return BukkitUtil.toBlock(getWorld(), itemStack);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public String getName() {
         return player.getName();
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitUtil.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitUtil.java
index 975906041..483198211 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/bukkit/BukkitUtil.java
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ package com.sk89q.worldedit.bukkit;
 
 import java.util.List;
 
+import com.sk89q.worldedit.NotABlockException;
+import com.sk89q.worldedit.WorldEditException;
+import com.sk89q.worldedit.blocks.BaseBlock;
 import org.bukkit.Server;
 import org.bukkit.World;
 import org.bukkit.block.Block;
@@ -41,6 +44,7 @@ import com.sk89q.worldedit.bukkit.entity.BukkitEntity;
 import com.sk89q.worldedit.bukkit.entity.BukkitExpOrb;
 import com.sk89q.worldedit.bukkit.entity.BukkitItem;
 import com.sk89q.worldedit.bukkit.entity.BukkitPainting;
+import org.bukkit.inventory.ItemStack;
 
 public class BukkitUtil {
     private BukkitUtil() {
@@ -153,4 +157,13 @@ public class BukkitUtil {
                 return new BukkitEntity(toLocation(e.getLocation()), e.getType(), e.getUniqueId());
         }
     }
+
+    public static BaseBlock toBlock(LocalWorld world, ItemStack itemStack) throws WorldEditException {
+        final int typeId = itemStack.getTypeId();
+        if (world.isValidBlockType(typeId)) {
+            return new BaseBlock(typeId, itemStack.getDurability());
+        }
+
+        throw new NotABlockException(typeId);
+    }
 }