diff --git a/src/book/mod.rs b/src/book/mod.rs
index 4101f6a9..4666e271 100644
--- a/src/book/mod.rs
+++ b/src/book/mod.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use toml::Value;
 
 use utils;
 use renderer::{CmdRenderer, HtmlHandlebars, RenderContext, Renderer};
-use preprocess;
+use preprocess::{Preprocessor, LinkPreprocessor, PreprocessorContext};
 use errors::*;
 
 use config::Config;
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ pub struct MDBook {
 
     /// The URL used for live reloading when serving up the book.
     pub livereload: Option<String>,
+
+    /// List of pre-processors to be run on the book
+    preprocessors: Vec<Box<Preprocessor>>
 }
 
 impl MDBook {
@@ -85,6 +88,7 @@ impl MDBook {
         let livereload = None;
 
         let renderers = determine_renderers(&config);
+        let preprocessors = determine_preprocessors(&config)?;
 
         Ok(MDBook {
             root,
@@ -92,6 +96,7 @@ impl MDBook {
             book,
             renderers,
             livereload,
+            preprocessors,
         })
     }
 
@@ -151,14 +156,22 @@ impl MDBook {
     pub fn build(&self) -> Result<()> {
         debug!("[fn]: build");
 
+        let mut preprocessed_book = self.book.clone();
+        let preprocess_ctx = PreprocessorContext::new(self.root.clone(), self.config.clone());
+
+        for preprocessor in &self.preprocessors {
+            debug!("Running the {} preprocessor.", preprocessor.name());
+            preprocessor.run(&preprocess_ctx, &mut preprocessed_book)?;
+        }
+
         for renderer in &self.renderers {
-            self.run_renderer(renderer.as_ref())?;
+            self.run_renderer(&preprocessed_book, renderer.as_ref())?;
         }
 
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn run_renderer(&self, renderer: &Renderer) -> Result<()> {
+    fn run_renderer(&self, preprocessed_book: &Book, renderer: &Renderer) -> Result<()> {
         let name = renderer.name();
         let build_dir = self.build_dir_for(name);
         if build_dir.exists() {
@@ -174,7 +187,7 @@ impl MDBook {
 
         let render_context = RenderContext::new(
             self.root.clone(),
-            self.book.clone(),
+            preprocessed_book.clone(),
             self.config.clone(),
             build_dir,
         );
@@ -185,13 +198,19 @@ impl MDBook {
     }
 
     /// You can change the default renderer to another one by using this method.
-    /// The only requirement is for your renderer to implement the [Renderer
-    /// trait](../../renderer/renderer/trait.Renderer.html)
+    /// The only requirement is for your renderer to implement the [`Renderer`
+    /// trait](../renderer/trait.Renderer.html)
     pub fn with_renderer<R: Renderer + 'static>(&mut self, renderer: R) -> &mut Self {
         self.renderers.push(Box::new(renderer));
         self
     }
 
+    /// Register a [`Preprocessor`](../preprocess/trait.Preprocessor.html) to be used when rendering the book.
+    pub fn with_preprecessor<P: Preprocessor + 'static>(&mut self, preprocessor: P) -> &mut Self {
+        self.preprocessors.push(Box::new(preprocessor));
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Run `rustdoc` tests on the book, linking against the provided libraries.
     pub fn test(&mut self, library_paths: Vec<&str>) -> Result<()> {
         let library_args: Vec<&str> = (0..library_paths.len())
@@ -202,15 +221,15 @@ impl MDBook {
 
         let temp_dir = TempDir::new("mdbook")?;
 
+        let preprocess_context = PreprocessorContext::new(self.root.clone(), self.config.clone());
+
+        LinkPreprocessor::new().run(&preprocess_context, &mut self.book)?;
+
         for item in self.iter() {
             if let BookItem::Chapter(ref ch) = *item {
                 if !ch.path.as_os_str().is_empty() {
                     let path = self.source_dir().join(&ch.path);
-                    let base = path.parent()
-                        .ok_or_else(|| String::from("Invalid bookitem path!"))?;
                     let content = utils::fs::file_to_string(&path)?;
-                    // Parse and expand links
-                    let content = preprocess::links::replace_all(&content, base)?;
                     println!("[*]: Testing file: {:?}", path);
 
                     // write preprocessed file to tempdir
@@ -309,6 +328,34 @@ fn determine_renderers(config: &Config) -> Vec<Box<Renderer>> {
     renderers
 }
 
+fn default_preprocessors() -> Vec<Box<Preprocessor>> {
+    vec![Box::new(LinkPreprocessor::new())]
+}
+
+/// Look at the `MDBook` and try to figure out what preprocessors to run.
+fn determine_preprocessors(config: &Config) -> Result<Vec<Box<Preprocessor>>> {
+
+    let preprocess_list = match config.build.preprocess {
+        Some(ref p) => p,
+        // If no preprocessor field is set, default to the LinkPreprocessor. This allows you
+        // to disable the LinkPreprocessor by setting "preprocess" to an empty list.
+        None => return Ok(default_preprocessors())
+    };
+
+    let mut preprocessors: Vec<Box<Preprocessor>> = Vec::new();
+
+    for key in preprocess_list {
+        match key.as_ref() {
+            "links" => {
+                preprocessors.push(Box::new(LinkPreprocessor::new()))
+            }
+            _ =>  bail!("{:?} is not a recognised preprocessor", key),
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(preprocessors)
+}
+
 fn interpret_custom_renderer(key: &str, table: &Value) -> Box<Renderer> {
     // look for the `command` field, falling back to using the key
     // prepended by "mdbook-"
@@ -364,4 +411,65 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(got.len(), 1);
         assert_eq!(got[0].name(), "random");
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn config_defaults_to_link_preprocessor_if_not_set() {
+        let cfg = Config::default();
+
+        // make sure we haven't got anything in the `output` table
+        assert!(cfg.build.preprocess.is_none());
+
+        let got = determine_preprocessors(&cfg);
+
+        assert!(got.is_ok());
+        assert_eq!(got.as_ref().unwrap().len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(got.as_ref().unwrap()[0].name(), "links");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn config_doesnt_default_if_empty() {
+        let cfg_str: &'static str = r#"
+        [book]
+        title = "Some Book"
+
+        [build]
+        build-dir = "outputs"
+        create-missing = false
+        preprocess = []
+        "#;
+
+
+        let cfg = Config::from_str(cfg_str).unwrap();
+
+        // make sure we have something in the `output` table
+        assert!(cfg.build.preprocess.is_some());
+
+        let got = determine_preprocessors(&cfg);
+
+        assert!(got.is_ok());
+        assert!(got.unwrap().is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn config_complains_if_unimplemented_preprocessor() {
+        let cfg_str: &'static str = r#"
+        [book]
+        title = "Some Book"
+
+        [build]
+        build-dir = "outputs"
+        create-missing = false
+        preprocess = ["random"]
+        "#;
+
+
+        let cfg = Config::from_str(cfg_str).unwrap();
+
+        // make sure we have something in the `output` table
+        assert!(cfg.build.preprocess.is_some());
+
+        let got = determine_preprocessors(&cfg);
+
+        assert!(got.is_err());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 24c3f96e..e74f1917 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -329,6 +329,9 @@ pub struct BuildConfig {
     /// Should non-existent markdown files specified in `SETTINGS.md` be created
     /// if they don't exist?
     pub create_missing: bool,
+    /// Which preprocessors should be applied
+    pub preprocess: Option<Vec<String>>,
+
 }
 
 impl Default for BuildConfig {
@@ -336,6 +339,7 @@ impl Default for BuildConfig {
         BuildConfig {
             build_dir: PathBuf::from("book"),
             create_missing: true,
+            preprocess: None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -422,6 +426,7 @@ mod tests {
         [build]
         build-dir = "outputs"
         create-missing = false
+        preprocess = ["first_preprocessor", "second_preprocessor"]
 
         [output.html]
         theme = "./themedir"
@@ -449,6 +454,8 @@ mod tests {
         let build_should_be = BuildConfig {
             build_dir: PathBuf::from("outputs"),
             create_missing: false,
+            preprocess: Some(vec!["first_preprocessor".to_string(),
+                                  "second_preprocessor".to_string()]),
         };
         let playpen_should_be = Playpen {
             editable: true,
@@ -550,6 +557,7 @@ mod tests {
         let build_should_be = BuildConfig {
             build_dir: PathBuf::from("my-book"),
             create_missing: true,
+            preprocess: None,
         };
 
         let html_should_be = HtmlConfig {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 163f3619..08c4c37e 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ extern crate toml_query;
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate pretty_assertions;
 
-mod preprocess;
+pub mod preprocess;
 pub mod book;
 pub mod config;
 pub mod renderer;
diff --git a/src/preprocess/links.rs b/src/preprocess/links.rs
index fbc1a2f5..c3cab8bf 100644
--- a/src/preprocess/links.rs
+++ b/src/preprocess/links.rs
@@ -5,9 +5,45 @@ use utils::fs::file_to_string;
 use utils::take_lines;
 use errors::*;
 
+use super::{Preprocessor, PreprocessorContext};
+use book::{Book, BookItem};
+
 const ESCAPE_CHAR: char = '\\';
 
-pub fn replace_all<P: AsRef<Path>>(s: &str, path: P) -> Result<String> {
+pub struct LinkPreprocessor;
+
+impl LinkPreprocessor {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        LinkPreprocessor
+    }
+}
+
+impl Preprocessor for LinkPreprocessor {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str {
+        "links"
+    }
+
+    fn run(&self, ctx: &PreprocessorContext, book: &mut Book) -> Result<()> {
+        let src_dir = ctx.root.join(&ctx.config.book.src);
+
+        for section in &mut book.sections {
+            match *section {
+                BookItem::Chapter(ref mut ch) => {
+                    let base = ch.path.parent()
+                        .map(|dir| src_dir.join(dir))
+                        .ok_or_else(|| String::from("Invalid bookitem path!"))?;
+                    let content = replace_all(&ch.content, base)?;
+                    ch.content = content
+                }
+                _ => {}
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+fn replace_all<P: AsRef<Path>>(s: &str, path: P) -> Result<String> {
     // When replacing one thing in a string by something with a different length,
     // the indices after that will not correspond,
     // we therefore have to store the difference to correct this
diff --git a/src/preprocess/mod.rs b/src/preprocess/mod.rs
index 19b2f4d4..091604d6 100644
--- a/src/preprocess/mod.rs
+++ b/src/preprocess/mod.rs
@@ -1 +1,25 @@
-pub mod links;
+pub use self::links::LinkPreprocessor;
+
+mod links;
+
+use book::Book;
+use config::Config;
+use errors::*;
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+pub struct PreprocessorContext {
+    pub root: PathBuf,
+    pub config: Config,
+}
+
+impl PreprocessorContext {
+    pub fn new(root: PathBuf, config: Config) -> Self {
+        PreprocessorContext { root, config }
+    }
+}
+
+pub trait Preprocessor {
+    fn name(&self) -> &str;
+    fn run(&self, ctx: &PreprocessorContext, book: &mut Book) -> Result<()>;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/renderer/html_handlebars/hbs_renderer.rs b/src/renderer/html_handlebars/hbs_renderer.rs
index 694186ee..d0ec14f7 100644
--- a/src/renderer/html_handlebars/hbs_renderer.rs
+++ b/src/renderer/html_handlebars/hbs_renderer.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use renderer::html_handlebars::helpers;
-use preprocess;
 use renderer::{RenderContext, Renderer};
 use book::{Book, BookItem, Chapter};
 use config::{Config, HtmlConfig, Playpen};
@@ -50,12 +49,6 @@ impl HtmlHandlebars {
         match *item {
             BookItem::Chapter(ref ch) => {
                 let content = ch.content.clone();
-                let base = ch.path.parent()
-                    .map(|dir| ctx.src_dir.join(dir))
-                    .expect("All chapters must have a parent directory");
-
-                // Parse and expand links
-                let content = preprocess::links::replace_all(&content, base)?;
                 let content = utils::render_markdown(&content, ctx.html_config.curly_quotes);
                 print_content.push_str(&content);
 
@@ -322,7 +315,6 @@ impl Renderer for HtmlHandlebars {
             let ctx = RenderItemContext {
                 handlebars: &handlebars,
                 destination: destination.to_path_buf(),
-                src_dir: src_dir.clone(),
                 data: data.clone(),
                 is_index: i == 0,
                 html_config: html_config.clone(),
@@ -634,7 +626,6 @@ fn partition_source(s: &str) -> (String, String) {
 struct RenderItemContext<'a> {
     handlebars: &'a Handlebars,
     destination: PathBuf,
-    src_dir: PathBuf,
     data: serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>,
     is_index: bool,
     html_config: HtmlConfig,
diff --git a/tests/testing.rs b/tests/testing.rs
index 8e060eb7..fb6a5e6a 100644
--- a/tests/testing.rs
+++ b/tests/testing.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@ extern crate mdbook;
 mod dummy_book;
 
 use dummy_book::DummyBook;
-use mdbook::MDBook;
 
+use mdbook::MDBook;
+use mdbook::preprocess::{Preprocessor, PreprocessorContext};
+use mdbook::book::Book;
+use mdbook::config::Config;
+use mdbook::errors::*;
+
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
 #[test]
 fn mdbook_can_correctly_test_a_passing_book() {
@@ -21,3 +27,31 @@ fn mdbook_detects_book_with_failing_tests() {
 
     assert!(md.test(vec![]).is_err());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn mdbook_runs_preprocessors() {
+
+    let has_run: Arc<Mutex<bool>> = Arc::new(Mutex::new(false));
+
+    struct DummyPreprocessor(Arc<Mutex<bool>>);
+
+    impl Preprocessor for DummyPreprocessor {
+        fn name(&self) -> &str {
+            "dummy"
+        }
+
+        fn run(&self, _ctx: &PreprocessorContext, _book: &mut Book) -> Result<()> {
+            *self.0.lock().unwrap() = true;
+            Ok(())
+        }
+    }
+
+    let temp = DummyBook::new().build().unwrap();
+    let cfg = Config::default();
+
+    let mut book = MDBook::load_with_config(temp.path(), cfg).unwrap();
+    book.with_preprecessor(DummyPreprocessor(Arc::clone(&has_run)));
+    book.build().unwrap();
+
+    assert!(*has_run.lock().unwrap())
+}