diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0a578fb..b7f8d04 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ by github or other sites via a command line flag.
 
 <!-- START doctoc generated TOC please keep comment here to allow auto update -->
 <!-- DON'T EDIT THIS SECTION, INSTEAD RE-RUN doctoc TO UPDATE -->
-**Table of Contents**  *generated with [DocToc](https://github.com/thlorenz/doctoc)*
+
 
 - [Installation](#installation)
 - [Usage](#usage)
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ by github or other sites via a command line flag.
   - [Specifying location of toc](#specifying-location-of-toc)
   - [Specifying a custom TOC title](#specifying-a-custom-toc-title)
   - [Specifying a maximum heading level for TOC entries](#specifying-a-maximum-heading-level-for-toc-entries)
+  - [Specifying the minimum number of headings required for TOC generation](#specifying-the-minimum-number-of-headings-required-for-toc-generation)
   - [Printing to stdout](#printing-to-stdout)
   - [Usage as a `git` hook](#usage-as-a-git-hook)
 
@@ -134,6 +135,17 @@ By default,
 - no limit is placed on Markdown-formatted headings,
 - whereas headings from embedded HTML are limited to 4 levels.
 
+### Specifying the minimum number of headings required for TOC generation
+
+Use the `--minheaders` option to limit when a TOC is generated; e.g., `doctoc --minheaders 3 .`
+
+This allows you to only generate TOCs if there are a minimum number of headings.
+
+By default,
+
+- no minimum count is placed on headings
+- passing `0` will generate a TOC when any number of headings exist
+
 ### Printing to stdout
 
 You can print to stdout by using the `-s` or `--stdout` option.
diff --git a/doctoc.js b/doctoc.js
index 40cb9a1..57d9103 100755
--- a/doctoc.js
+++ b/doctoc.js
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ function cleanPath(path) {
   return homeExpanded.replace(/\s/g, '\\ ');
 }
 
-function transformAndSave(files, mode, maxHeaderLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix, stdOut) {
+function transformAndSave(files, mode, maxHeaderLevel, minHeadersLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix, stdOut) {
   console.log('\n==================\n');
 
   var transformed = files
     .map(function (x) {
       var content = fs.readFileSync(x.path, 'utf8')
-        , result = transform(content, mode, maxHeaderLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix);
+        , result = transform(content, mode, maxHeaderLevel, minHeadersLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix);
       result.path = x.path;
       return result;
     });
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ var mode = modes['github'];
 
 var argv = minimist(process.argv.slice(2)
     , { boolean: [ 'h', 'help', 'T', 'notitle', 's', 'stdout'].concat(Object.keys(modes))
-    , string: [ 'title', 't', 'maxlevel', 'm', 'entryprefix' ]
+    , string: [ 'title', 't', 'maxlevel', 'm', 'entryprefix', 'minheaders' ]
     , unknown: function(a) { return (a[0] == '-' ? (console.error('Unknown option(s): ' + a), printUsageAndExit(true)) : true); }
     });
 
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ var stdOut = argv.s || argv.stdout
 var maxHeaderLevel = argv.m || argv.maxlevel;
 if (maxHeaderLevel && isNaN(maxHeaderLevel) || maxHeaderLevel < 0) { console.error('Max. heading level specified is not a positive number: ' + maxHeaderLevel), printUsageAndExit(true); }
 
+var minHeadersLevel = argv.m || argv.minheaders;
+if (minHeadersLevel && isNaN(minHeadersLevel) || minHeadersLevel < 0) { console.error('Min headers level specified is not a positive number: ' + minHeadersLevel), printUsageAndExit(true); }
+
 for (var i = 0; i < argv._.length; i++) {
   var target = cleanPath(argv._[i])
     , stat = fs.statSync(target)
@@ -110,7 +113,7 @@ for (var i = 0; i < argv._.length; i++) {
     files = [{ path: target }];
   }
 
-  transformAndSave(files, mode, maxHeaderLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix, stdOut);
+  transformAndSave(files, mode, maxHeaderLevel, minHeadersLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix, stdOut);
 
   console.log('\nEverything is OK.');
 }
diff --git a/lib/transform.js b/lib/transform.js
index 8126f11..acd20e7 100644
--- a/lib/transform.js
+++ b/lib/transform.js
@@ -106,13 +106,16 @@ function determineTitle(title, notitle, lines, info) {
   return info.hasStart ? lines[info.startIdx + 2] : defaultTitle;
 }
 
-exports = module.exports = function transform(content, mode, maxHeaderLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix) {
+exports = module.exports = function transform(content, mode, maxHeaderLevel, minHeadersLevel, title, notitle, entryPrefix) {
   mode = mode || 'github.com';
   entryPrefix = entryPrefix || '-';
 
   // only limit *HTML* headings by default
   var maxHeaderLevelHtml = maxHeaderLevel || 4;
 
+  // no minimum headers level by default
+  var minHeadersLevelHtml = minHeadersLevel || 0;
+
   var lines = content.split('\n')
     , info = updateSection.parse(lines, matchesStart, matchesEnd)
 
@@ -130,9 +133,13 @@ exports = module.exports = function transform(content, mode, maxHeaderLevel, tit
 
   var allHeaders    =  countHeaders(headers)
     , lowestRank    =  _(allHeaders).chain().pluck('rank').min().value()
-    , linkedHeaders =  _(allHeaders).map(addAnchor.bind(null, mode));
+    , linkedHeaders =  _(allHeaders).map(addAnchor.bind(null, mode))
+    , noLinkedHeaders = linkedHeaders.length === 0
+    , lessHeadersThanMin = linkedHeaders.length < minHeadersLevelHtml;
 
-  if (linkedHeaders.length === 0) return { transformed: false };
+  if (noLinkedHeaders || lessHeadersThanMin) {
+    return { transformed: false };
+  }
 
   // 4 spaces required for proper indention on Bitbucket and GitLab
   var indentation = (mode === 'bitbucket.org' || mode === 'gitlab.com') ? '    ' : '  ';