diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 81cb66d..ce8478d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ rdoc style.
 class example($foo) { }
 ```
 
+### Private api
+
+The check will ignore missing documentation for private apis by default.
+To disable this behaviour and check private apis, use the following configuration:
+
+```ruby
+PuppetLint.configuration.docs_check_private_params = true
+```
+
 ### Selective rake task
 
 The usual puppet-lint rake task checks all manifests, which isn't always
diff --git a/lib/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation.rb b/lib/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation.rb
index 052b353..6d48571 100644
--- a/lib/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 PuppetLint.new_check(:parameter_documentation) do
   def check
+    check_private = PuppetLint.configuration.docs_check_private_params || false
+
     class_indexes.concat(defined_type_indexes).each do |idx|
       doc_params = {}
       doc_params_duplicates = Hash.new { |hash, key| hash[key] = [doc_params[key]] }
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ def check
         }
       end
 
-      unless is_private
+      unless is_private and not check_private
         params.each do |p|
           next if doc_params.has_key? p.value
           notify :warning, {
diff --git a/spec/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation_spec.rb b/spec/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation_spec.rb
index 0d5eda2..ed628d4 100644
--- a/spec/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/puppet-lint/plugins/check_parameter_documentation_spec.rb
@@ -173,13 +173,34 @@ class example($foo, $bar) { }
       EOS
     end
 
-    it 'should detect no single problems' do
-      expect(problems).to have(0).problems
+    context 'check private api disabled (default)' do
+      it 'should detect no single problems' do
+        expect(problems).to have(0).problems
+      end
+
+      it 'should not create a warning' do
+        expect(problems).not_to contain_info(class_msg % :foo)
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'should not create a warning' do
-      expect(problems).not_to contain_info(class_msg % :foo)
+    context 'check private api enabled' do
+      before do
+        PuppetLint.configuration.docs_check_private_params = true
+      end
+
+      after do
+        PuppetLint.configuration.docs_check_private_params = false
+      end
+
+      it 'should detect a single problems' do
+        expect(problems).to have(1).problem
+      end
+
+      it 'should create a warning' do
+        expect(problems).to contain_warning(class_msg % :foo).on_line(6).in_column(15)
+      end
     end
+
   end
 
   context 'define missing documentation (@param bar) for a parameter' do