diff --git a/src/CodeCoverageSummary/CommandLineOptions.cs b/src/CodeCoverageSummary/CommandLineOptions.cs
index ca4c016..6ca33ec 100644
--- a/src/CodeCoverageSummary/CommandLineOptions.cs
+++ b/src/CodeCoverageSummary/CommandLineOptions.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ namespace CodeCoverageSummary
 
         public bool Badge => BadgeString.Equals("true", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
 
+        [Option(longName: "fail", Required = false, HelpText = "Fail if overall Line Rate below lower threshold - true or false.", Default = "false")]
+        public string FailString { get; set; }
+
+        public bool FailBelowThreshold => FailString.Equals("true", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
         [Option(longName: "format", Required = false, HelpText = "Output Format - markdown or text.", Default = "text")]
         public string Format { get; set; }
 
@@ -24,7 +29,7 @@ namespace CodeCoverageSummary
         [Option(longName: "output", Required = false, HelpText = "Output Type - console, file or both.", Default = "console")]
         public string Output { get; set; }
 
-        [Option(longName: "thresholds", Required = false, HelpText = "Badge and health indicator threshold percentages.", Default = "50 75")]
+        [Option(longName: "thresholds", Required = false, HelpText = "Threshold percentages for badge and health indicators, lower threshold can also be used to fail the action.", Default = "50 75")]
         public string Thresholds { get; set; }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Program.cs b/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Program.cs
index 89ad2c3..ad0e30b 100644
--- a/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Program.cs
+++ b/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Program.cs
@@ -49,11 +49,15 @@ namespace CodeCoverageSummary
                                              {
                                                  fileExt = "txt";
                                                  output = GenerateTextOutput(summary, badgeUrl, o.Indicators);
+                                                 if (o.FailBelowThreshold)
+                                                     output += $"Minimum allowed line rate is {lowerThreshold * 100:N0}%{Environment.NewLine}";
                                              }
                                              else if (o.Format.Equals("md", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) || o.Format.Equals("markdown", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                                              {
                                                  fileExt = "md";
                                                  output = GenerateMarkdownOutput(summary, badgeUrl, o.Indicators);
+                                                 if (o.FailBelowThreshold)
+                                                     output += $"{Environment.NewLine}_Minimum allowed line rate is `{lowerThreshold * 100:N0}%`_{Environment.NewLine}";
                                              }
                                              else
                                              {
@@ -81,6 +85,12 @@ namespace CodeCoverageSummary
                                                  return -2; // error
                                              }
 
+                                             if (o.FailBelowThreshold && summary.LineRate < lowerThreshold)
+                                             {
+                                                 Console.WriteLine($"FAIL: Overall line rate below minimum threshold of {lowerThreshold * 100:N0}%.");
+                                                 return -2;
+                                             }
+
                                              return 0; // success
                                          }
                                      }
diff --git a/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Properties/launchSettings.json b/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Properties/launchSettings.json
index 583b9e3..25f7867 100644
--- a/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Properties/launchSettings.json
+++ b/src/CodeCoverageSummary/Properties/launchSettings.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "profiles": {
     "CodeCoverageSummary": {
       "commandName": "Project",
-      "commandLineArgs": "../../../../coverage.cobertura.xml --format=md --badge true --thresholds=\"80 90\""
+      "commandLineArgs": "../../../../coverage.cobertura.xml --format=md --badge true --thresholds=\"85 90\" --fail true"
     },
     "Docker": {
       "commandName": "Docker",