diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 283913d7bb62794ac003573a414dccd2d4f7ecc1..db3880e31b59a8c3dbf906c6fc47bc6502dfd68c 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ formatted-commit -t refactor -s "web/git-bug" -m "fancy shmancy" \
 			return err
 		}
 
+		if breakingChange && !hasBreakingChangeFooter(body) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("breaking change flag (-B) requires a BREAKING CHANGE: or CHANGES: footer at the end of the body. It instructs users how to resolve the breaking changes resulting from this commit")
+		}
+
 		var commitMsg strings.Builder
 		commitMsg.WriteString(subject)
 
@@ -151,6 +155,17 @@ func buildAndValidateSubject(commitType, scope, message string, breaking bool) (
 	return result, nil
 }
 
+func hasBreakingChangeFooter(body string) bool {
+	lines := strings.Split(body, "\n")
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(line)
+		if strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "BREAKING CHANGE:") || strings.HasPrefix(trimmed, "BREAKING CHANGES:") {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func main() {
 	ctx := context.Background()