diff --git a/.ci/test_r_package.sh b/.ci/test_r_package.sh
index 134d89d155c3..50c274128e84 100755
--- a/.ci/test_r_package.sh
+++ b/.ci/test_r_package.sh
@@ -91,4 +91,15 @@ if grep -q -R "WARNING" "$LOG_FILE_NAME"; then
     exit -1
 fi
 
+ALLOWED_CHECK_NOTES=3
+NUM_CHECK_NOTES=$(
+    cat ${LOG_FILE_NAME} \
+        | grep -e '^Status: .* NOTE.*' \
+        | sed 's/[^0-9]*//g'
+)
+if [[ ${NUM_CHECK_NOTES} -gt ${ALLOWED_CHECK_NOTES} ]]; then
+    echo "Found ${NUM_CHECK_NOTES} NOTEs from R CMD check. Only ${ALLOWED_CHECK_NOTES} are allowed"
+    exit -1
+fi
+
 exit 0