A hand protecting cavity ventilation system for an oven is provided. The system includes an air duct, positioned at a top of a cavity of the oven, the air duct having a duct outlet aimed toward a door to the cavity to provide an airflow along an inner surface of the door. The air duct extends downward from the ceiling of the cavity in front of and below a heating element disposed below the ceiling of the cavity. The air duct forms a vertically displaced hand protection portion to act as a barrier in front of the heating element, thereby guarding the heating element when the door of the oven is opened.