diff --git a/cmd/apply.go b/cmd/apply.go
index 6b5a23f4..c47ce83d 100644
--- a/cmd/apply.go
+++ b/cmd/apply.go
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ func NewApplyCmd(globalCfg *config.GlobalImpl) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.SkipCRDs, "skip-crds", false, "if set, no CRDs will be installed on sync. By default, CRDs are installed if not already present")
 	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.SkipNeeds, "skip-needs", true, `do not automatically include releases from the target release's "needs" when --selector/-l flag is provided. Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided. Defaults to true when --include-needs or --include-transitive-needs is not provided`)
 	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.IncludeNeeds, "include-needs", false, `automatically include releases from the target release's "needs" when --selector/-l flag is provided. Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided`)
+	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.EnforceNeedsAreInstalled, "enforce-needs-are-installed", false, "enforce that all 'needs' dependencies are installable before applying changes")
 	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.IncludeTransitiveNeeds, "include-transitive-needs", false, `like --include-needs, but also includes transitive needs (needs of needs). Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided. Overrides exclusions of other selectors and conditions.`)
 	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.SkipDiffOnInstall, "skip-diff-on-install", false, "Skips running helm-diff on releases being newly installed on this apply. Useful when the release manifests are too huge to be reviewed, or it's too time-consuming to diff at all")
 	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.IncludeTests, "include-tests", false, "enable the diffing of the helm test hooks")
diff --git a/cmd/diff.go b/cmd/diff.go
index c2238704..32267d3e 100644
--- a/cmd/diff.go
+++ b/cmd/diff.go
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ func NewDiffCmd(globalCfg *config.GlobalImpl) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVar(&diffOptions.SkipNeeds, "skip-needs", true, `do not automatically include releases from the target release's "needs" when --selector/-l flag is provided. Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided. Defaults to true when --include-needs or --include-transitive-needs is not provided`)
 	f.BoolVar(&diffOptions.IncludeTests, "include-tests", false, "enable the diffing of the helm test hooks")
 	f.BoolVar(&diffOptions.IncludeNeeds, "include-needs", false, `automatically include releases from the target release's "needs" when --selector/-l flag is provided. Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided`)
+	f.BoolVar(&diffOptions.EnforceNeedsAreInstalled, "enforce-needs-are-installed", false, "enforce that all 'needs' dependencies are installable before applying changes")
 	f.BoolVar(&diffOptions.IncludeTransitiveNeeds, "include-transitive-needs", false, `like --include-needs, but also includes transitive needs (needs of needs). Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided. Overrides exclusions of other selectors and conditions.`)
 	f.BoolVar(&diffOptions.SkipDiffOnInstall, "skip-diff-on-install", false, "Skips running helm-diff on releases being newly installed on this apply. Useful when the release manifests are too huge to be reviewed, or it's too time-consuming to diff at all")
 	f.BoolVar(&diffOptions.ShowSecrets, "show-secrets", false, "do not redact secret values in the output. should be used for debug purpose only")
diff --git a/cmd/sync.go b/cmd/sync.go
index 3bd80e6f..6cc31975 100644
--- a/cmd/sync.go
+++ b/cmd/sync.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func NewSyncCmd(globalCfg *config.GlobalImpl) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.SkipCRDs, "skip-crds", false, "if set, no CRDs will be installed on sync. By default, CRDs are installed if not already present")
 	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.IncludeNeeds, "include-needs", false, `automatically include releases from the target release's "needs" when --selector/-l flag is provided. Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided`)
 	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.IncludeTransitiveNeeds, "include-transitive-needs", false, `like --include-needs, but also includes transitive needs (needs of needs). Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided. Overrides exclusions of other selectors and conditions.`)
+	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.EnforceNeedsAreInstalled, "enforce-needs-are-installed", false, "enforce that all 'needs' dependencies are installable before applying changes")
 	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.HideNotes, "hide-notes", false, "add --hide-notes flag to helm")
 	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.TakeOwnership, "take-ownership", false, `add --take-ownership flag to helm`)
 	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.SyncReleaseLabels, "sync-release-labels", false, "sync release labels to the target release")
diff --git a/cmd/template.go b/cmd/template.go
index 6cb81fea..8713f5b3 100644
--- a/cmd/template.go
+++ b/cmd/template.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ func NewTemplateCmd(globalCfg *config.GlobalImpl) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVar(&templateOptions.SkipNeeds, "skip-needs", true, `do not automatically include releases from the target release's "needs" when --selector/-l flag is provided. Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided. Defaults to true when --include-needs or --include-transitive-needs is not provided`)
 	f.BoolVar(&templateOptions.IncludeNeeds, "include-needs", false, `automatically include releases from the target release's "needs" when --selector/-l flag is provided. Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided`)
 	f.BoolVar(&templateOptions.IncludeTransitiveNeeds, "include-transitive-needs", false, `like --include-needs, but also includes transitive needs (needs of needs). Does nothing when --selector/-l flag is not provided. Overrides exclusions of other selectors and conditions.`)
+	f.BoolVar(&templateOptions.EnforceNeedsAreInstalled, "enforce-needs-are-installed", false, "enforce that all 'needs' dependencies are installable before applying changes")
 	f.BoolVar(&templateOptions.SkipCleanup, "skip-cleanup", false, "Stop cleaning up temporary values generated by helmfile and helm-secrets. Useful for debugging. Don't use in production for security")
 	f.BoolVar(&templateOptions.NoHooks, "no-hooks", false, "do not template files made by hooks.")
 	f.StringVar(&templateOptions.PostRenderer, "post-renderer", "", `pass --post-renderer to "helm template" or "helm upgrade --install"`)
diff --git a/pkg/app/app.go b/pkg/app/app.go
index aa73fbb2..26d7a5d4 100644
--- a/pkg/app/app.go
+++ b/pkg/app/app.go
@@ -1979,10 +1979,13 @@ func (a *App) withNeeds(r *Run, c DAGConfig, includeDisabled bool, f func(*state
 		includeNeeds = true
 	}
 
-	batches, err := st.PlanReleases(state.PlanOptions{Reverse: false, SelectedReleases: selectedReleases, IncludeNeeds: includeNeeds, IncludeTransitiveNeeds: c.IncludeTransitiveNeeds(), SkipNeeds: c.SkipNeeds()})
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, []error{err}
-	}
+	batches, err := st.PlanReleases(state.PlanOptions{
+		Reverse:                false,
+		SelectedReleases:       selectedReleases,
+		IncludeNeeds:           includeNeeds,
+		IncludeTransitiveNeeds: c.IncludeTransitiveNeeds(),
+		SkipNeeds:              c.SkipNeeds(),
+	})
 
 	var selectedReleasesWithNeeds []state.ReleaseSpec
 
@@ -1992,6 +1995,15 @@ func (a *App) withNeeds(r *Run, c DAGConfig, includeDisabled bool, f func(*state
 		}
 	}
 
+	if c.EnforceNeedsAreInstalled() {
+		for _, r := range toRender {
+			visited := make(map[string]bool)
+			if depErr := st.HasTransitiveDependencyWithInstalledFalse(r, visited); depErr != nil {
+				return false, []error{fmt.Errorf("Release %s has a transitive dependency %s marked as install=false", depErr.Release.Name, depErr.Dependency.Name)}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	var toRender []state.ReleaseSpec
 
 	releasesToUninstall := map[string]state.ReleaseSpec{}
diff --git a/pkg/app/app_test.go b/pkg/app/app_test.go
index cf38aa2e..f91fe9b3 100644
--- a/pkg/app/app_test.go
+++ b/pkg/app/app_test.go
@@ -2104,11 +2104,12 @@ type configImpl struct {
 	skipSchemaValidation bool
 	skipRefresh          bool
 
-	skipNeeds              bool
-	includeNeeds           bool
-	includeTransitiveNeeds bool
-	skipCharts             bool
-	kubeVersion            string
+	skipNeeds                bool
+	includeNeeds             bool
+	includeTransitiveNeeds   bool
+	enforceNeedsAreInstalled bool
+	skipCharts               bool
+	kubeVersion              string
 }
 
 func (c configImpl) Selectors() []string {
@@ -2318,6 +2319,10 @@ func (a applyConfig) SkipNeeds() bool {
 	return a.skipNeeds
 }
 
+func (a applyConfig) EnforceNeedsAreInstalled() bool {
+	return a.enforceNeedsAreInstalled
+}
+
 func (a applyConfig) IncludeNeeds() bool {
 	return a.includeNeeds || a.IncludeTransitiveNeeds()
 }
diff --git a/pkg/app/config.go b/pkg/app/config.go
index e699d86f..f7aabf85 100644
--- a/pkg/app/config.go
+++ b/pkg/app/config.go
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ type DAGConfig interface {
 	SkipNeeds() bool
 	IncludeNeeds() bool
 	IncludeTransitiveNeeds() bool
+	EnforceNeedsAreInstalled() bool
 }
 
 type WriteValuesConfigProvider interface {