diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 916d8c26..44114e93 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ Set up (the latest version of) [HAProxy](http://www.haproxy.org/) in Ubuntu syst
 * `haproxy_listen.{n}.option`: [optional]: Options to set (e.g. `[dontlog-normal]`)
 * `haproxy_listen.{n}.no_option`: [optional]: Options to set (e.g. `[dontlog-normal]`)
 * `haproxy_listen.{n}.tcp_check`: [optional]: Perform health checks using tcp-check send/expect sequences (e.g. `['expect string +OK\ POP3\ ready']`)
+* `haproxy_listen.{n}.http_check`: [optional]: Make HTTP health checks consider response contents or specific status codes (e.g. `expect status 403`)
 * `haproxy_listen.{n}.timeout`: [optional]: Timeout declarations
 * `haproxy_listen.{n}.timeout.type`: [required]: The type (e.g. `connect`, `client`, `server`)
 * `haproxy_listen.{n}.timeout.timeout`: [required]: The timeout (in in milliseconds by default, but can be in any other unit if the number is suffixed by the unit) (e.g. `5000`, `50000`)
@@ -162,6 +163,7 @@ Set up (the latest version of) [HAProxy](http://www.haproxy.org/) in Ubuntu syst
 * `haproxy_backend.{n}.balance`: [required]: The load balancing algorithm to be used (e.g. `roundrobin`)
 * `haproxy_backend.{n}.source`: [optional]: Set the source address or interface for connections from the proxy
 * `haproxy_backend.{n}.option`: [optional]: Options to set (e.g. `[forwardfor]`)
+* `haproxy_backend.{n}.http_check`: [optional]: Make HTTP health checks consider response contents or specific status codes (e.g. `expect status 403`)
 * `haproxy_backend.{n}.no_option`: [optional]: Options to unset (e.g. `[forceclose]`)
 * `haproxy_backend.{n}.tcp_check`: [optional]: Perform health checks using tcp-check send/expect sequences (e.g. `['expect string +OK\ POP3\ ready']`)
 * `haproxy_backend.{n}.timeout`: [optional]: Timeout declarations
diff --git a/templates/etc/haproxy/backend.cfg.j2 b/templates/etc/haproxy/backend.cfg.j2
index 86abb8a0..79c90d56 100644
--- a/templates/etc/haproxy/backend.cfg.j2
+++ b/templates/etc/haproxy/backend.cfg.j2
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ backend {{ backend.name }}
   option {{ option }}
 {% endfor %}
 
+{% if backend.http_check is defined %}
+  http-check {{ backend.http_check }}
+{% endif %}
 {% for option in backend.no_option | default([]) %}
   no option {{ option }}
 {% endfor %}
diff --git a/templates/etc/haproxy/listen.cfg.j2 b/templates/etc/haproxy/listen.cfg.j2
index 88aa6fe3..9b3b6cfc 100644
--- a/templates/etc/haproxy/listen.cfg.j2
+++ b/templates/etc/haproxy/listen.cfg.j2
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ listen {{ listen.name }}
   maxconn {{ listen.maxconn }}
 {% endif %}
 
+{% if listen.http_check is defined %}
+  http-check {{ listen.http_check }}
+{% endif %}
+
 {% if listen.source is defined %}
   source {{ listen.source }}
 {% endif %}