diff --git a/circ/circulation.pl b/circ/circulation.pl
index 644f6e0e18..004e7c8b13 100755
--- a/circ/circulation.pl
+++ b/circ/circulation.pl
@@ -568,7 +568,8 @@ foreach $flag ( sort keys %$flags ) {
         if ( $flag eq 'CHARGES' ) {
             $template->param(
                 charges    => 'true',
-                chargesmsg => $flags->{'CHARGES'}->{'message'}
+                chargesmsg => $flags->{'CHARGES'}->{'message'},
+                charges_is_blocker => 1
             );
         }
         if ( $flag eq 'CREDITS' ) {
diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/circ/circulation.tmpl b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/circ/circulation.tmpl
index 8c043f1ad6..9b91040428 100755
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/circ/circulation.tmpl
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/en/modules/circ/circulation.tmpl
@@ -330,7 +330,15 @@ No patron matched <span class="ex"><!-- TMPL_VAR name="message" --></span>
             <!-- /TMPL_IF -->
 			
         	<!-- TMPL_IF NAME="charges" -->
-			<li><span class="circ-hlt">Fines:</span> Patron has  <a href="/cgi-bin/koha/members/boraccount.pl?borrowernumber=<!-- TMPL_VAR name="borrowernumber" -->">Outstanding fines</a>.
+                <!-- TMPL_IF NAME="charges_is_blocker" -->
+			        <li class="blocker">
+                <!-- TMPL_ELSE -->
+			        <li>
+                <!-- /TMPL_IF -->
+            <span class="circ-hlt">Fines:</span> Patron has  <a href="/cgi-bin/koha/members/boraccount.pl?borrowernumber=<!-- TMPL_VAR name="borrowernumber" -->">Outstanding fines</a>.
+                <!-- TMPL_IF NAME="charges_is_blocker" -->
+                    Checkouts are blocked because fine balance is over the limit.
+                <!-- /TMPL_IF -->
             Make <a href="/cgi-bin/koha/members/pay.pl?borrowernumber=<!-- TMPL_VAR name="borrowernumber" -->">Payment</a></li>
 			<!-- /TMPL_IF -->