diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0498068..a85386d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ Optional use
 2. By default users will get just 1 free click, however by setting `FirstClickFree.free_clicks` in an initializer you can allow n free clicks to content.
 3. A count of users' free clicks are available in request.env["first_click_free_count"].
 
+4. throw exception option. `FirstClickFree.raise_exception` in an initializer.
+
 #### Registered Users
 
 If you have registered users that should always be allowed through (they shouldn't be affected by any first click free rules), then you can override the `user_for_first_click_free` method in `ApplicationController`, or any of your controllers using `allow_first_click_free`. This method should return either a falsy value if no-one is signed in, or the current user.
diff --git a/lib/first_click_free.rb b/lib/first_click_free.rb
index 378b88f..292e3a5 100644
--- a/lib/first_click_free.rb
+++ b/lib/first_click_free.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class << self
 
     require 'yaml'
 
-    attr_accessor :test_mode, :permitted_paths, :free_clicks
+    attr_accessor :test_mode, :permitted_paths, :free_clicks, :raise_exception
 
     def root
       File.expand_path(File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), '..'))
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ def free_clicks
       @free_clicks || 1 # default is 1 click free
     end
 
+    def raise_exception?
+      @raise_exception || false # default is false
+    end
+
     def test_mode
       @test_mode || false
     end
diff --git a/lib/first_click_free/concerns/controller.rb b/lib/first_click_free/concerns/controller.rb
index b297d8f..1e2943f 100644
--- a/lib/first_click_free/concerns/controller.rb
+++ b/lib/first_click_free/concerns/controller.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ def user_for_first_click_free
         nil
       end
 
+      # allow or deny the request for content access.
+      def allow_first_click_free?
+        @first_click_free
+      end
 
       # Public: Either record a first click free request, or reject
       # the request for a subsequent content access.
@@ -60,6 +64,8 @@ def user_for_first_click_free
       # Returns true if the referrer User agent is GoogleBot, or
       # if this is the first click recorded for this session.
       def record_or_reject_first_click_free!
+        @first_click_free = true
+
         # Always allow requests from Googlebot
         return true if googlebot?
 
@@ -86,6 +92,9 @@ def record_or_reject_first_click_free!
         end
         request.env["first_click_free_count"] = session[:first_click].length
         return true
+      rescue FirstClickFree::Exceptions::SubsequentAccessException => e
+        @first_click_free = false
+        raise FirstClickFree::Exceptions::SubsequentAccessException if FirstClickFree.raise_exception?
       end
 
       private
@@ -105,4 +114,4 @@ def checksum(url)
       end
     end
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/spec/concerns/controller_spec.rb b/spec/concerns/controller_spec.rb
index d21bc76..8aa9cc8 100644
--- a/spec/concerns/controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/concerns/controller_spec.rb
@@ -43,8 +43,11 @@ def checksum(url)
     end
 
     context "subsequent visit to different page" do
-      before { session[:first_click] = [ checksum("http://test.host/another-page") ] }
+      before do
+        session[:first_click] = [ checksum("http://test.host/another-page") ]
+      end
 
+      FirstClickFree.raise_exception = true
       it { expect { get :index }.to raise_error FirstClickFree::Exceptions::SubsequentAccessException }
     end
 
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ def checksum(url)
         FirstClickFree.free_clicks = 3
       end
 
+      FirstClickFree.raise_exception = true
       it { get :index; request.env["first_click_free_count"].should eq 3 }
       it { expect { get :index }.not_to raise_error }
     end
@@ -67,6 +71,7 @@ def checksum(url)
         FirstClickFree.free_clicks = 3
       end
 
+      FirstClickFree.raise_exception = true
       it { expect { get :index }.to raise_error FirstClickFree::Exceptions::SubsequentAccessException }
     end