diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index 287b9ea3..2245653a 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ options:
       Wildcards '*' are accepted to exclude, for example, single queue on all
       hosts. Note that the wildcard asterisk must be double-escaped. Example:
       [['\\*', 'queue1']]
+  busiest_queues:
+    type: int
+    default: 0
+    description: |
+      Number of the busiest RabbitMQ queues to display when warning and
+      critical checking thresholds are exceeded. Queues are displayed in
+      decreasing message count order.
   connection-backlog:
     type: int
     default:
diff --git a/files/check_rabbitmq_queues.py b/files/check_rabbitmq_queues.py
index bd1bedb1..219208e6 100755
--- a/files/check_rabbitmq_queues.py
+++ b/files/check_rabbitmq_queues.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def gen_stats(data_lines):
         yield vhost, queue, int(m_all)
 
 
-def collate_stats(stats, limits, exclude):
+def collate_stats(stats, limits, exclude, busiest_queues):
     # Create a dict with stats collated according to the definitions in the
     # limits file. If none of the definitions in the limits file is matched,
     # store the stat without collating.
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ def collate_stats(stats, limits, exclude):
         for l_vhost, l_queue, _, _ in limits:
             if fnmatchcase(vhost, l_vhost) and fnmatchcase(queue, l_queue):
                 collated[l_vhost, l_queue] += m_all
+                # Save vhost and queue names when using wildcards as arguments.
+                if busiest_queues > 0:
+                    collated[vhost, queue] += m_all
                 break
         else:
             collated[vhost, queue] += m_all
@@ -104,6 +107,20 @@ def check_stats_file_freshness(stats_file, oldest_timestamp):
     return ("OK", "")
 
 
+def top_n_queues(stats, busiest_queues):
+    if busiest_queues <= 0:
+        return []
+    tqueues = [" - Top Queues"]
+    sorted_messages_stats = sorted(stats.items(),
+                                   key=lambda y: y[1],
+                                   reverse=True)
+    for stat in sorted_messages_stats[:busiest_queues]:
+        tqueues.append("{0}:{1} -> {2}".format(stat[0][0],  # vhost
+                                               stat[0][1],  # queue
+                                               stat[1]))    # messages
+    return tqueues
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description='RabbitMQ queue size nagios check.')
@@ -139,6 +156,14 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             'raised'
         )
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-d',
+        type=int,
+        required=False,
+        default=0,
+        metavar=('n'),
+        help='Display the n busiest queues'
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         'stats_file',
         nargs='*',
@@ -151,7 +176,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         chain.from_iterable(
             gen_data_lines(filename) for filename in args.stats_file))
     # Collate stats according to limit definitions and check.
-    stats_collated = collate_stats(stats, args.c, args.e)
+    stats_collated = collate_stats(stats, args.c, args.e, args.d)
     stats_checked = check_stats(stats_collated, args.c)
     criticals, warnings = [], []
     for queue, vhost, message_no, status in stats_checked:
@@ -170,12 +195,16 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             msg for status, msg in freshness_results if status == "CRIT"
         )
 
+    tqueues = top_n_queues(stats_collated, args.d)
+
     if len(criticals) > 0:
-        print("CRITICAL: {}".format(", ".join(criticals)))
+        print("CRITICAL: {0} {1}".format(", ".join(criticals),
+                                         " | ".join(tqueues)))
         sys.exit(2)
         # XXX: No warnings if there are criticals?
     elif len(warnings) > 0:
-        print("WARNING: {}".format(", ".join(warnings)))
+        print("WARNING: {0} {1}".format(", ".join(warnings),
+                                        " | ".join(tqueues)))
         sys.exit(1)
     else:
         print("OK")
diff --git a/hooks/rabbit_utils.py b/hooks/rabbit_utils.py
index 40b22f2b..e808046a 100644
--- a/hooks/rabbit_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/rabbit_utils.py
@@ -1531,6 +1531,9 @@ def nrpe_update_queues_check(nrpe_compat, rabbit_dir):
             cmd += ' -c "{}" "{}" {} {}'.format(*item)
         for item in yaml.safe_load(config('exclude_queues')):
             cmd += ' -e "{}" "{}"'.format(*item)
+        busiest_queues = config('busiest_queues')
+        if busiest_queues is not None and int(busiest_queues) > 0:
+            cmd += ' -d "{}"'.format(busiest_queues)
 
         max_age = get_max_stats_file_age()
         if max_age > 0:
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_rabbit_utils.py b/unit_tests/test_rabbit_utils.py
index f7405944..5ff5746f 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_rabbit_utils.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_rabbit_utils.py
@@ -1303,6 +1303,23 @@ class UtilsTests(CharmTestCase):
 
         self.nrpe_compat.reset_mock()
 
+        # call with set busiest_queues > 0
+        queues_number = 3
+        self.test_config.set('busiest_queues', str(queues_number))
+        self.test_config.set('exclude_queues', "[]")
+        rabbit_utils.nrpe_update_queues_check(self.nrpe_compat, self.tmp_dir)
+        busiest_queues = '-d "{}" '.format(queues_number)
+        self.nrpe_compat.add_check.assert_called_with(
+            shortname='rabbitmq_queue',
+            description='Check RabbitMQ Queues',
+            check_cmd='{0}/check_rabbitmq_queues.py -c "\\*" "\\*" 100 200 {1}'
+                      '-m 600 '
+                      '{0}/data/test_queue_stats.dat'.format(self.tmp_dir,
+                                                             busiest_queues))
+        self.nrpe_compat.remove_check.assert_not_called()
+
+        self.nrpe_compat.reset_mock()
+
         # call with unset stats_cron_schedule
         self.test_config.unset('stats_cron_schedule')
         rabbit_utils.nrpe_update_queues_check(self.nrpe_compat, self.tmp_dir)