Self‐criticism is a vulnerability risk factor for a number of psychological disorders, and it predicts poor response to psychological and pharmacological treatments. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of a loving‐kindness meditation (LKM) programme designed to increase self‐compassion in a sample of self‐critical individuals. Thirty‐eight individuals with high scores on the self‐critical perfectionism subscale of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale were randomized to an LKM condition (n = 19) or a wait‐list (WL) condition (n = 19). Measures of self‐criticism, self‐compassion and psychological distress were administered before and immediately following the intervention (LKM or WL). WL participants received the intervention immediately after the waiting period. Both groups were assessed 3 months post‐intervention. Intent‐to‐treat (n = 38) and per‐protocol analyses (n = 32) showed significant reductions in self‐criticism and depressive symptoms as well as significant increases in self‐compassion and positive emotions in the LKM condition compared with the WL condition. A follow‐up per‐protocol analysis in both groups together (n = 20) showed that these gains were maintained 3 months after the intervention. These preliminary results suggest that LKM may be efficacious in alleviating self‐criticism, increasing self‐compassion and improving depressive symptoms among self‐critical individuals. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message Self‐criticism plays a major role in many psychological disorders and predicts poor response to brief psychological and pharmacological treatments for depression. The current study shows that loving‐kindness meditation, designed to foster self‐compassion, is efficacious in helping self‐critical individuals become less self‐critical and more self‐compassionate. The study also suggests that practising loving‐kindness may reduce depressive symptoms and increase positive emotions.