diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3956fe0..b913d14 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Usage: ./check_http_json.rb -u <URI> -e <element> -w <warn> -c <crit>
         --pass PASSWORD              HTTP basic authentication password.
         --headers HEADERS            Comma-separated list of HTTP headers to include (ex. HOST:somehost,AUTH:letmein).
         --status_level STRING        Comma-separated list of HTTP status codes and their associated Nagios alert levels (ex. 301:1,404:2).
+        --status_level_default VALUE The default return code for unexpected HTTP status codes. Defaults to 1.
     -f, --file PATH                  Target file. Incompatible with -u.
     -e, --element ELEMENT...         Desired element (ex. foo=>bar=>ish is foo.bar.ish). Repeatable argument.
     -E, --element_regex REGEX        Desired element expressed as regular expression.
diff --git a/check_http_json.rb b/check_http_json.rb
index 856621b..c929f1e 100755
--- a/check_http_json.rb
+++ b/check_http_json.rb
@@ -214,8 +214,7 @@ def uri_target(options)
 
     # We must get a 200 response; if not, the user might want to know.
     if not response.code.to_i == 200 then
-        # WARN by default.
-        level = 1
+        level = options[:status_level_default]
         if options[:status_level] then
             options[:status_level].each do |s|
                 k,v = s.split(':')
@@ -301,6 +300,11 @@ def parse_args(options)
             options[:status_level] = x.split(',')
         end
 
+        options[:status_level_default] = 1
+        opts.on('--status_level_default VALUE', 'The default return code for unexpected HTTP status codes. Defaults to 1.') do |x|
+            options[:status_level_default] = x.to_i
+        end
+
         options[:file] = nil
         opts.on('-f', '--file PATH', 'Target file. Incompatible with -u.') do |x|
             options[:file] = x