diff --git a/file_list.py b/file_list.py
index 3ed489a..ad66402 100755
--- a/file_list.py
+++ b/file_list.py
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ def setup_options():
                      help="Modify changed files [%(default)s]")
     parser.add_argument("-d",action="store_true",dest="delete",default=False,
                      help="Delete non-existing entries [%(default)s]")
+    parser.add_argument("--haschanges",action="store_true",dest="haschanges",default=False,
+                      help="Do not change anything, return True and exit code 1 if DB needs update. Exit code 0 if all intact.")
+    parser.add_argument("--hasdeletions",action="store_true",dest="hasdeletions",default=False,
+                      help="Do not change anything, return True and exit code 1 if DB needs update. Exit code 0 if all intact.")
+    parser.add_argument("--hasadditions",action="store_true",dest="hasadditions",default=False,
+                      help="Do not change anything, return True and exit code 1 if DB needs update. Exit code 0 if all intact.")
     parser.add_argument("-l",action="store_true",dest="symlinks",default=False,
                      help="Follow symbolic links [%(default)s]")
     parser.add_argument("--dup",action="store_true",dest="duplicate",default=False,
@@ -74,6 +80,49 @@ def delete_nonexisting(sqlfile,options):
     conn.commit()
     return
 
+def has_changes(options):
+    conn=sqlite3.connect(options.sqlfile)
+    conn.text_factory=str
+    db=conn.cursor()
+    if options.haschanges:
+        options.changed=True
+    if options.hasdeletions or options.haschanges:
+        has_changes_deleted(db)
+    if options.hasadditions or options.haschanges:
+        has_changes_additions(db,options)
+    
+def has_changes_deleted(db):
+    db.execute('SELECT file FROM list')
+    for row in db:
+        if not os.path.exists(row[0]):
+            print('True')
+            sys.exit(1)
+    return    
+
+def has_changes_additions(db,options):
+    for path,dirs,files in os.walk(options.startpath,followlinks=options.symlinks):
+        dirs=clean_dirs(dirs)
+        db_files=get_folder_contents(db,os.path.abspath(path)+'/')
+        if not options.symlinks:
+            files=clean_syms(files,path)
+        for file in files:
+            filename=os.path.abspath(os.path.join(path,file))
+            if file==options.sqlfile:
+                continue
+            #if not is_listed(db,filename):
+            if file not in db_files:
+                print('True')
+                sys.exit(1)
+            else:
+                if options.changed:
+                    ftime=os.path.getmtime(filename)
+                    if not ftime_match(db,filename,ftime):
+                        #file content changed
+                        print('True')
+                        sys.exit(1)
+                    
+    return
+
 def add_recurse(options):
     conn=sqlite3.connect(options.sqlfile)
     conn.text_factory=str
@@ -226,6 +275,9 @@ def main():
 
     if not os.path.exists(options.sqlfile):
         createdb(options.sqlfile);
+    if options.haschanges or options.hasadditions or options.hasdeletions:
+        has_changes(options)
+        sys.exit(0)
     if len(options.search)>0 and not options.match:
         searchdb(options.sqlfile,options.search)
         sys.exit(0)