diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 358323a..e9722ed 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,3 +31,17 @@ If you would like business jargon triggers that are not in the plugin, [pull req
 HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_JARGON='more,jargon,ideat(e|ion)'
 HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_OMITTED_JARGON='in the loop,takeaway'
 ```
+
+If you think business cat triggers too often, you can also reduce the probability of a response by setting the variable HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_FREQUENCY to a positive integer value, giving a one-in-HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_FREQUENCY chance of replying.  if not set, this defaults to the existing 100% chance of a response.
+```
+# a 50% chance of responding:  (one of two)
+HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_FREQUENCY=2
+```
+```
+# a 25% chance of responding:  (one in four)
+HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_FREQUENCY=4
+```
+```
+# a 1% chance of responding:  (one in one-hundred)
+HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_FREQUENCY=100
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/businesscat.coffee b/src/businesscat.coffee
index e3f1931..4b2b6f1 100644
--- a/src/businesscat.coffee
+++ b/src/businesscat.coffee
@@ -34,10 +34,17 @@ if process.env.HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_OMITTED_JARGON?
   omittedJargon = (process.env.HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_OMITTED_JARGON).split(',')
   jargon = removeTerm(term, jargon) for term in omittedJargon
 
+if process.env.HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_FREQUENCY? > 0
+  frequency = Math.floor(process.env.HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_OMITTED_JARGON)
+else
+  frequency = 1
+
 regex = new RegExp jargon.join('|'), 'gi'
 
 exports = module.exports = (robot) ->
   robot.hear regex, (msg) ->
-    msg.send msg.random images
+    if !(Math.floor(Math.random() * frequency)))
+      msg.send msg.random images
 
 exports.removeTerm = removeTerm
+
diff --git a/test/businesscat_test.coffee b/test/businesscat_test.coffee
index bbf6098..2429881 100644
--- a/test/businesscat_test.coffee
+++ b/test/businesscat_test.coffee
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ describe 'hubot-business-cat', ->
   afterEach ->
     delete process.env.HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_JARGON
     delete process.env.HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_OMITTED_JARGON
+    delete process.env.HUBOT_BUSINESS_CAT_FREQUENCY
 
   it 'does register a hear listener', ->
     expect(@robot.hear).to.have.been.calledWithMatch sinon.match( (val) ->