diff --git a/cmd/helm/lint.go b/cmd/helm/lint.go
index d3e496cda..75a0f3082 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/lint.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/lint.go
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@ var lintCommand = &cobra.Command{
 	RunE:  lintCmd,
 }
 
+var flagStrict bool
+
 func init() {
+	lintCommand.Flags().BoolVarP(&flagStrict, "strict", "", false, "fail on lint warnings")
 	RootCommand.AddCommand(lintCommand)
 }
 
@@ -59,6 +62,13 @@ func lintCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		paths = args
 	}
 
+	var lowestTolerance int
+	if flagStrict {
+		lowestTolerance = support.WarningSev
+	} else {
+		lowestTolerance = support.ErrorSev
+	}
+
 	var total int
 	var failures int
 	for _, path := range paths {
@@ -77,7 +87,7 @@ func lintCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			}
 
 			total = total + 1
-			if linter.HighestSeverity >= support.ErrorSev {
+			if linter.HighestSeverity >= lowestTolerance {
 				failures = failures + 1
 			}
 		}