diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cb9efec..6bf17f5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ $ ./node_modules/.bin/license-to-fail init
 
 `warnOnUnknown`: instead of erroring on packages with an `UNKNOWN` license, just warn. (false by default)
 
+`ignoreDevDependencies`: do not check licenses for devDependencies. (false by default)
+
 ```js
 // ./config.js
 module.exports = {
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index fadcdc0..78d0273 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ module.exports = function checkLicenses(config) {
   var allowedPackages = config.allowedPackages || [];
   var warnOnUnknown = config.warnOnUnknown || false;
   var configPath = config.configPath;
+  var ignoreDevDependencies = config.ignoreDevDependencies || false;
 
   function log(dep) {
     var type = 'INDIRECT DEP';
@@ -47,7 +48,8 @@ module.exports = function checkLicenses(config) {
   }
 
   checker.init({
-    start: process.cwd()
+    start: process.cwd(),
+    production: ignoreDevDependencies
   }, function(err, json) {
     var prohibitedDeps = Object.keys(json)
       .map(function(dep) {