diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index b39e7df9..c715b555 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -1,19 +1,20 @@
 # Configure lefthook.yml
 
 - [Top level options](#top-level-options)
+  - [`assert_lefthook_installed`](#assert_lefthook_installed)
   - [`colors`](#colors)
     - [`yellow`](#colors)
     - [`green`](#colors)
     - [`cyan`](#colors)
     - [`gray`](#colors)
     - [`red`](#colors)
-  - [`no_tty`](#no_tty)
   - [`extends`](#extends)
   - [`min_version`](#min_version)
+  - [`no_tty`](#no_tty)
+  - [`rc`](#rc)
   - [`skip_output`](#skip_output)
   - [`source_dir`](#source_dir)
   - [`source_dir_local`](#source_dir_local)
-  - [`rc`](#rc)
 - [`remote` (Beta :test_tube:)](#remote)
   - [`git_url`](#git_url)
   - [`ref`](#ref)
@@ -59,6 +60,12 @@
 
 These options are not related to git hooks, and they only control lefthook behavior.
 
+### `assert_lefthook_installed`
+
+**Default: `false`**
+
+When set to `true`, fail (with exit status 1) if `lefthook` executable can't be found in $PATH, under node_modules/, as a Ruby gem, or other supported method. This makes sure git hook won't omit `lefthook` rules if `lefthook` ever was installed.
+
 ### `colors`
 
 **Default: `true`**
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 52fc5c8b..7aea9cf7 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -15,15 +15,16 @@ import (
 const dumpIndent = 2
 
 type Config struct {
-	MinVersion     string      `mapstructure:"min_version,omitempty"`
-	SourceDir      string      `mapstructure:"source_dir"`
-	SourceDirLocal string      `mapstructure:"source_dir_local"`
-	Rc             string      `mapstructure:"rc,omitempty"`
-	SkipOutput     []string    `mapstructure:"skip_output,omitempty"`
-	Extends        []string    `mapstructure:"extends,omitempty"`
-	NoTTY          bool        `mapstructure:"no_tty,omitempty"`
-	Colors         interface{} `mapstructure:"colors,omitempty"`
-	Remote         *Remote     `mapstructure:"remote,omitempty" `
+	MinVersion              string      `mapstructure:"min_version,omitempty"`
+	SourceDir               string      `mapstructure:"source_dir"`
+	SourceDirLocal          string      `mapstructure:"source_dir_local"`
+	Rc                      string      `mapstructure:"rc,omitempty"`
+	SkipOutput              []string    `mapstructure:"skip_output,omitempty"`
+	Extends                 []string    `mapstructure:"extends,omitempty"`
+	NoTTY                   bool        `mapstructure:"no_tty,omitempty"`
+	AssertLefthookInstalled bool        `mapstructure:"assert_lefthook_installed,omitempty"`
+	Colors                  interface{} `mapstructure:"colors,omitempty"`
+	Remote                  *Remote     `mapstructure:"remote,omitempty"`
 
 	Hooks map[string]*Hook `mapstructure:"-"`
 }
diff --git a/internal/lefthook/add.go b/internal/lefthook/add.go
index adbe1d9e..d77e8464 100644
--- a/internal/lefthook/add.go
+++ b/internal/lefthook/add.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func (l *Lefthook) Add(args *AddArgs) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	err = l.addHook(args.Hook, "")
+	err = l.addHook(args.Hook, "", false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/lefthook/install.go b/internal/lefthook/install.go
index c2a0896a..540e1b9c 100644
--- a/internal/lefthook/install.go
+++ b/internal/lefthook/install.go
@@ -135,12 +135,12 @@ func (l *Lefthook) createHooksIfNeeded(cfg *config.Config, force bool) error {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err = l.addHook(hook, cfg.Rc); err != nil {
+		if err = l.addHook(hook, cfg.Rc, cfg.AssertLefthookInstalled); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err = l.addHook(config.GhostHookName, cfg.Rc); err != nil {
+	if err = l.addHook(config.GhostHookName, cfg.Rc, cfg.AssertLefthookInstalled); err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/lefthook/lefthook.go b/internal/lefthook/lefthook.go
index 5adcb142..75f78342 100644
--- a/internal/lefthook/lefthook.go
+++ b/internal/lefthook/lefthook.go
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@ func (l *Lefthook) cleanHook(hook string, force bool) error {
 }
 
 // Creates a hook file using hook template.
-func (l *Lefthook) addHook(hook, rc string) error {
+func (l *Lefthook) addHook(hook, rc string, assertLefthookInstalled bool) error {
 	hookPath := filepath.Join(l.repo.HooksPath, hook)
 	return afero.WriteFile(
-		l.Fs, hookPath, templates.Hook(hook, rc), hookFileMode,
+		l.Fs, hookPath, templates.Hook(hook, rc, assertLefthookInstalled), hookFileMode,
 	)
 }
diff --git a/internal/templates/hook.tmpl b/internal/templates/hook.tmpl
index 6432a74e..af750cd5 100644
--- a/internal/templates/hook.tmpl
+++ b/internal/templates/hook.tmpl
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ call_lefthook()
     npx @evilmartians/lefthook "$@"
   else
     echo "Can't find lefthook in PATH"
+    {{- if .AssertLefthookInstalled}}
+    echo "ERROR: Operation is aborted due to lefthook settings."
+    echo "Make sure lefthook is available in your environment and re-try."
+    echo "To skip these checks use --no-verify git argument or set LEFTHOOK=0 env variable."
+    exit 1
+    {{- end}}
   fi
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/templates/templates.go b/internal/templates/templates.go
index 0a1112db..8b1da93e 100644
--- a/internal/templates/templates.go
+++ b/internal/templates/templates.go
@@ -14,18 +14,20 @@ const checksumFormat = "%s %d\n"
 var templatesFS embed.FS
 
 type hookTmplData struct {
-	HookName  string
-	Extension string
-	Rc        string
+	HookName                string
+	Extension               string
+	Rc                      string
+	AssertLefthookInstalled bool
 }
 
-func Hook(hookName, rc string) []byte {
+func Hook(hookName, rc string, assertLefthookInstalled bool) []byte {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
 	t := template.Must(template.ParseFS(templatesFS, "hook.tmpl"))
 	err := t.Execute(buf, hookTmplData{
-		HookName:  hookName,
-		Extension: getExtension(),
-		Rc:        rc,
+		HookName:                hookName,
+		Extension:               getExtension(),
+		Rc:                      rc,
+		AssertLefthookInstalled: assertLefthookInstalled,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)