diff --git a/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlLayout.cs b/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlLayout.cs
index bf20c03..f3104fd 100644
--- a/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlLayout.cs
+++ b/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlLayout.cs
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@ namespace RazorBlade;
 /// </summary>
 public abstract class HtmlLayout : HtmlTemplate, IRazorLayout
 {
-    private IRazorLayout.IExecutionResult? _layoutInput;
+    private IRazorExecutionResult? _layoutInput;
 
-    private IRazorLayout.IExecutionResult LayoutInput => _layoutInput ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("No layout is being rendered.");
-
-    async Task<IRazorLayout.IExecutionResult> IRazorLayout.ExecuteLayoutAsync(IRazorLayout.IExecutionResult input)
+    async Task<IRazorExecutionResult> IRazorLayout.ExecuteLayoutAsync(IRazorExecutionResult input)
     {
         try
         {
@@ -30,7 +28,7 @@ public abstract class HtmlLayout : HtmlTemplate, IRazorLayout
     /// Returns the inner page body.
     /// </summary>
     protected internal IEncodedContent RenderBody()
-        => LayoutInput.Body;
+        => GetLayoutInput().Body;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Renders a required section and returns the result as encoded content.
@@ -71,7 +69,7 @@ protected internal Task<IEncodedContent> RenderSectionAsync(string name)
     /// <returns>The content to write to the output.</returns>
     protected internal async Task<IEncodedContent> RenderSectionAsync(string name, bool required)
     {
-        var result = await LayoutInput.RenderSectionAsync(name).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        var result = await GetLayoutInput().RenderSectionAsync(name).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
         if (result is not null)
             return result;
@@ -79,6 +77,19 @@ protected internal async Task<IEncodedContent> RenderSectionAsync(string name, b
         if (required)
             throw new InvalidOperationException($"Section '{name}' is not defined.");
 
-        return StringBuilderEncodedContent.Empty;
+        return HtmlString.Empty;
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Indicates if a given section is defined.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="name">The section name.</param>
+    protected internal bool IsSectionDefined(string name)
+        => GetLayoutInput().IsSectionDefined(name);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Ensures the template is being executed as a layout and returns the input data.
+    /// </summary>
+    private IRazorExecutionResult GetLayoutInput()
+        => _layoutInput ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("The template is not being executed as a layout.");
 }
diff --git a/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlString.cs b/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlString.cs
index 594d061..6d4939c 100644
--- a/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlString.cs
+++ b/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlString.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ public sealed class HtmlString : IEncodedContent
 {
     private readonly string _value;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Represents an empty HTML-encoded string.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static HtmlString Empty { get; } = new(string.Empty);
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Creates a HTML-encoded string.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlTemplate.cs b/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlTemplate.cs
index 1a421fe..aaef0a3 100644
--- a/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlTemplate.cs
+++ b/src/RazorBlade.Library/HtmlTemplate.cs
@@ -155,7 +155,5 @@ protected HtmlTemplate(TModel model)
     /// This constructor is provided for the designer only. Do not use.
     /// </summary>
     protected HtmlTemplate()
-    {
-        throw new NotSupportedException("Use the constructor overload that takes a model.");
-    }
+        => throw new NotSupportedException("Use the constructor overload that takes a model.");
 }
diff --git a/src/RazorBlade.Library/IRazorExecutionResult.cs b/src/RazorBlade.Library/IRazorExecutionResult.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af6fd4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RazorBlade.Library/IRazorExecutionResult.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace RazorBlade;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// The execution result of a Razor template.
+/// </summary>
+internal interface IRazorExecutionResult
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The rendered body contents.
+    /// </summary>
+    IEncodedContent Body { get; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The layout this execution result should be wrapped in.
+    /// </summary>
+    IRazorLayout? Layout { get; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The cancellation token.
+    /// </summary>
+    CancellationToken CancellationToken { get; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Renders a section.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="name">The section name.</param>
+    /// <returns>The rendered output, or null if the section is not defined.</returns>
+    Task<IEncodedContent?> RenderSectionAsync(string name);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Indicates if a given section is defined.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="name">The section name.</param>
+    bool IsSectionDefined(string name);
+}
diff --git a/src/RazorBlade.Library/IRazorLayout.cs b/src/RazorBlade.Library/IRazorLayout.cs
index 8b38879..d1ce858 100644
--- a/src/RazorBlade.Library/IRazorLayout.cs
+++ b/src/RazorBlade.Library/IRazorLayout.cs
@@ -1,45 +1,16 @@
-using System.Threading;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 
 namespace RazorBlade;
 
 /// <summary>
 /// Represents a Razor layout page.
 /// </summary>
-public interface IRazorLayout
+internal interface IRazorLayout
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// Renders the layout for a given page.
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="input">The input data.</param>
     /// <returns>The output data after rendering the layout, which can be used for the next layout.</returns>
-    Task<IExecutionResult> ExecuteLayoutAsync(IExecutionResult input);
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// The execution result of a page.
-    /// </summary>
-    public interface IExecutionResult
-    {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The rendered body contents.
-        /// </summary>
-        IEncodedContent Body { get; }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The layout this execution result needs to be wrapped in.
-        /// </summary>
-        IRazorLayout? Layout { get; }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The cancellation token.
-        /// </summary>
-        CancellationToken CancellationToken { get; }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Renders a section.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="name">The section name.</param>
-        /// <returns>The rendered output, or null if the section is not defined.</returns>
-        Task<IEncodedContent?> RenderSectionAsync(string name);
-    }
+    Task<IRazorExecutionResult> ExecuteLayoutAsync(IRazorExecutionResult input);
 }
diff --git a/src/RazorBlade.Library/RazorTemplate.cs b/src/RazorBlade.Library/RazorTemplate.cs
index d0acd2f..5f6f894 100644
--- a/src/RazorBlade.Library/RazorTemplate.cs
+++ b/src/RazorBlade.Library/RazorTemplate.cs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public abstract class RazorTemplate : IEncodedContent
     /// <summary>
     /// The layout to use.
     /// </summary>
-    protected internal IRazorLayout? Layout { get; set; }
+    private protected IRazorLayout? Layout { get; set; }
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Renders the template synchronously and returns the result as a string.
@@ -112,6 +112,9 @@ public async Task RenderAsync(TextWriter textWriter, CancellationToken cancellat
 #endif
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Renders the template asynchronously including its layout and returns the result as a <see cref="StringBuilder"/>.
+    /// </summary>
     private async Task<StringBuilder> RenderAsyncCore(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
         cancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
@@ -124,7 +127,7 @@ private async Task<StringBuilder> RenderAsyncCore(CancellationToken cancellation
             executionResult = await layout.ExecuteLayoutAsync(executionResult).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
 
-        if (executionResult.Body is StringBuilderEncodedContent { StringBuilder: var outputStringBuilder })
+        if (executionResult.Body is EncodedContent { Output: var outputStringBuilder })
             return outputStringBuilder;
 
         var outputStringWriter = new StringWriter();
@@ -132,13 +135,16 @@ private async Task<StringBuilder> RenderAsyncCore(CancellationToken cancellation
         return outputStringWriter.GetStringBuilder();
     }
 
-    private protected async Task<IRazorLayout.IExecutionResult> ExecuteAsyncCore(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Calls the <see cref="ExecuteAsync"/> method in a new <see cref="ExecutionScope"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    private protected async Task<IRazorExecutionResult> ExecuteAsyncCore(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
         cancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
 
         using var executionScope = new ExecutionScope(this, cancellationToken);
         await ExecuteAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
-        return new ExecutionResult(this, executionScope.Output);
+        return new ExecutionResult(executionScope);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -226,7 +232,47 @@ protected internal void DefineSection(string name, Func<Task> action)
     void IEncodedContent.WriteTo(TextWriter textWriter)
         => Render(textWriter, CancellationToken.None);
 
-    private class ExecutionResult : IRazorLayout.IExecutionResult
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Saves the current state, resets it, and restores it when disposed.
+    /// </summary>
+    private class ExecutionScope : IDisposable
+    {
+        private readonly Dictionary<string, Func<Task>>? _previousSections;
+        private readonly TextWriter _previousOutput;
+        private readonly CancellationToken _previousCancellationToken;
+        private readonly IRazorLayout? _previousLayout;
+
+        public RazorTemplate Page { get; }
+        public StringBuilder Output { get; } = new();
+
+        public ExecutionScope(RazorTemplate page, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            Page = page;
+
+            _previousSections = page._sections;
+            _previousOutput = page.Output;
+            _previousCancellationToken = page.CancellationToken;
+            _previousLayout = page.Layout;
+
+            page._sections = null;
+            page.Output = new StringWriter(Output);
+            page.CancellationToken = cancellationToken;
+            page.Layout = null;
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose()
+        {
+            Page._sections = _previousSections;
+            Page.Output = _previousOutput;
+            Page.CancellationToken = _previousCancellationToken;
+            Page.Layout = _previousLayout;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Stores the result of a template execution.
+    /// </summary>
+    private class ExecutionResult : IRazorExecutionResult
     {
         private readonly RazorTemplate _page;
         private readonly IReadOnlyDictionary<string, Func<Task>>? _sections;
@@ -235,73 +281,48 @@ private class ExecutionResult : IRazorLayout.IExecutionResult
         public IRazorLayout? Layout { get; }
         public CancellationToken CancellationToken { get; }
 
-        public ExecutionResult(RazorTemplate page, StringBuilder body)
+        public ExecutionResult(ExecutionScope executionScope)
         {
-            _page = page;
-            _sections = page._sections;
-            Body = new StringBuilderEncodedContent(body);
-            Layout = page.Layout;
-            CancellationToken = page.CancellationToken;
+            _page = executionScope.Page;
+            _sections = _page._sections;
+            Body = new EncodedContent(executionScope.Output);
+            Layout = _page.Layout;
+            CancellationToken = _page.CancellationToken;
         }
 
+        public bool IsSectionDefined(string name)
+            => _sections?.ContainsKey(name) is true;
+
         public async Task<IEncodedContent?> RenderSectionAsync(string name)
         {
             if (_sections is null || !_sections.TryGetValue(name, out var sectionAction))
                 return null;
 
             using var executionScope = new ExecutionScope(_page, CancellationToken);
+            _page.Layout = Layout; // The section might reference this instance.
             await sectionAction().ConfigureAwait(false);
-            return new StringBuilderEncodedContent(executionScope.Output);
+            return new EncodedContent(executionScope.Output);
         }
     }
 
-    private protected class StringBuilderEncodedContent : IEncodedContent
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Stores the output of a template execution as a <see cref="StringBuilder"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <remarks>
+    /// StringBuilders can be combined more efficiently than strings, which is useful for layouts.
+    /// <see cref="TextWriter"/> has a dedicated <c>Write</c> overload for <see cref="StringBuilder"/>.
+    /// </remarks>
+    private class EncodedContent : IEncodedContent
     {
-        public static IEncodedContent Empty { get; } = new StringBuilderEncodedContent(new StringBuilder());
-
-        public StringBuilder StringBuilder { get; }
+        public StringBuilder Output { get; }
 
-        public StringBuilderEncodedContent(StringBuilder stringBuilder)
-            => StringBuilder = stringBuilder;
+        public EncodedContent(StringBuilder value)
+            => Output = value;
 
         public void WriteTo(TextWriter textWriter)
-            => textWriter.Write(StringBuilder);
+            => textWriter.Write(Output);
 
         public override string ToString()
-            => StringBuilder.ToString();
-    }
-
-    private class ExecutionScope : IDisposable
-    {
-        private readonly RazorTemplate _page;
-
-        private readonly Dictionary<string, Func<Task>>? _sections;
-        private readonly TextWriter _output;
-        private readonly CancellationToken _cancellationToken;
-        private readonly IRazorLayout? _layout;
-
-        public StringBuilder Output { get; }
-
-        public ExecutionScope(RazorTemplate page, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
-        {
-            _page = page;
-
-            _sections = page._sections;
-            _output = page.Output;
-            _cancellationToken = page.CancellationToken;
-            _layout = page.Layout;
-
-            Output = new StringBuilder();
-            page.Output = new StringWriter(Output);
-            page.CancellationToken = cancellationToken;
-        }
-
-        public void Dispose()
-        {
-            _page._sections = _sections;
-            _page.Output = _output;
-            _page.CancellationToken = _cancellationToken;
-            _page.Layout = _layout;
-        }
+            => Output.ToString();
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/RazorBlade.Tests/HtmlLayoutTests.cs b/src/RazorBlade.Tests/HtmlLayoutTests.cs
index 99c4fb9..fce4422 100644
--- a/src/RazorBlade.Tests/HtmlLayoutTests.cs
+++ b/src/RazorBlade.Tests/HtmlLayoutTests.cs
@@ -104,6 +104,31 @@ public void should_render_nested_layout_sections()
         page.Render().ShouldEqual("innerSection pageSection");
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public void should_keep_the_layout_in_sections()
+    {
+        var sectionRendered = false;
+
+        var layout = new Layout(t => t.Write(t.RenderSection("section")));
+
+        var page = new Template(t =>
+        {
+            t.Layout = layout;
+            t.DefineSection(
+                "section",
+                () =>
+                {
+                    t.Layout.ShouldBeTheSameAs(layout);
+                    sectionRendered = true;
+                    return Task.CompletedTask;
+                }
+            );
+        });
+
+        page.Render();
+        sectionRendered.ShouldBeTrue();
+    }
+
     private class Template : HtmlTemplate
     {
         private readonly Action<Template> _executeAction;