diff --git a/lib/rspec/snapshot/file_operator.rb b/lib/rspec/snapshot/file_operator.rb
index 9cc5f60..a290f3c 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/snapshot/file_operator.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/snapshot/file_operator.rb
@@ -42,10 +42,9 @@ def read
       # Writes the value to file, overwriting the file contents if either of the
       # following is true:
       # * The snapshot file does not already exist.
+      # * If it does not exist and the RAISE_ON_SNAPSHOT_CREATE environment variable is set throw
       # * The UPDATE_SNAPSHOTS environment variable is set.
       #
-      # TODO: Do not write to file if running in CI mode.
-      #
       # @param [String] snapshot_name The snapshot name.
       # @param [String] value The value to write to file.
       def write(value)
@@ -68,7 +67,13 @@ def write(value)
       end
 
       private def file_does_not_exist?
-        !File.exist?(@snapshot_path)
+        return false if File.exist?(@snapshot_path)
+
+        if ENV.fetch('RAISE_ON_SNAPSHOT_CREATE', nil) == 'true'
+          raise "Snapshot file does not exist #{@snapshot_path}, " \
+                'set to raise when missing'
+        end
+        true
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/rspec/snapshot/file_operator_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/snapshot/file_operator_spec.rb
index 6a0c868..ef0d136 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/snapshot/file_operator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/snapshot/file_operator_spec.rb
@@ -114,23 +114,45 @@
     context 'when the snapshot does not exist' do
       before do
         allow(File).to receive(:exist?).and_return(false)
-        subject.write(value)
       end
 
-      it 'checks for file existence' do
-        expect(File).to have_received(:exist?).with(relative_snapshot_path)
-      end
+      context 'RAISE_ON_SNAPSHOT_CREATE env var is not set' do
+        before do
+          subject.write(value)
+        end
 
-      it 'creates a new file instance' do
-        expect(File).to have_received(:new).with(relative_snapshot_path, 'w+')
-      end
+        it 'checks for file existence' do
+          expect(File).to have_received(:exist?).with(relative_snapshot_path)
+        end
+
+        it 'creates a new file instance' do
+          expect(File).to have_received(:new).with(relative_snapshot_path, 'w+')
+        end
 
-      it 'writes the value to the file' do
-        expect(file).to have_received(:write).with(value)
+        it 'writes the value to the file' do
+          expect(file).to have_received(:write).with(value)
+        end
+
+        it 'closes the file' do
+          expect(file).to have_received(:close)
+        end
       end
 
-      it 'closes the file' do
-        expect(file).to have_received(:close)
+      context 'and the RAISE_ON_SNAPSHOT_CREATE env var is set' do
+        before do
+          allow(ENV).to receive(:fetch).and_call_original
+          
+          allow(ENV).to receive(:fetch).with('RAISE_ON_SNAPSHOT_CREATE', nil)
+            .and_return('true')
+        end
+
+        it 'raises an error' do
+          expect { subject.write(value) }.to raise_error(
+            RuntimeError,
+            "Snapshot file does not exist #{relative_snapshot_path}, set to raise when missing"
+          )
+          expect(File).not_to have_received(:new).with(relative_snapshot_path, 'w+')
+        end
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/rspec/snapshot/matchers_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/snapshot/matchers_spec.rb
index e54760b..6af06f9 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/snapshot/matchers_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/snapshot/matchers_spec.rb
@@ -393,6 +393,82 @@ def dump(object)
       end
     end
 
+    context 'when RAISE_ON_SNAPSHOT_CREATE environment variable is set' do
+      before do
+        allow(ENV).to receive(:fetch).and_call_original
+        allow(ENV).to receive(:fetch).with('RAISE_ON_SNAPSHOT_CREATE',
+                                           nil).and_return('true')
+      end
+
+      context 'and a snapshot file exists' do
+        let(:original_snapshot_value) { 'foo' }
+        let(:updated_snapshot_value) { 'bar' }
+        let(:snapshot_name) { 'update_existing_snapshot' }
+        let(:snapshot_path) do
+          current_directory_path.join('__snapshots__',
+                                      "#{snapshot_name}.snap")
+        end
+
+        before do
+          allow(ENV).to receive(:fetch).with('UPDATE_SNAPSHOTS',
+                                             nil).and_return(true)
+        end
+
+        let!(:actual) do
+          file = File.new(snapshot_path, 'w+')
+          file.write(original_snapshot_value)
+          file.close
+
+          expect(updated_snapshot_value).to match_snapshot(snapshot_name)
+
+          file = File.new(snapshot_path)
+          actual = file.read
+          file.close
+          actual
+        end
+
+        it 'does not throw and updates' do
+          expect(actual).to eq(updated_snapshot_value)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'and a snapshot file does not exist' do
+        let(:snapshot_value) { 'foo' }
+        let(:snapshot_name) { 'update_non_existing_snapshot' }
+        let(:snapshot_path) do
+          current_directory_path.join('__snapshots__',
+                                      "#{snapshot_name}.snap")
+        end
+
+        before do
+          file = instance_double(File)
+
+          allow(File).to receive(:new).and_return(file)
+          allow(file).to receive(:write)
+          allow(file).to receive(:close)
+        end
+
+        let(:actual) do
+          FileUtils.rm_f(snapshot_path)
+
+          expect(snapshot_value).to match_snapshot(snapshot_name)
+
+          file = File.new(snapshot_path)
+          actual = file.read
+          file.close
+          actual
+        end
+
+        it 'writes the snapshot with the current value' do
+          expect { actual }.to raise_error(
+            RuntimeError,
+            a_string_including("Snapshot file does not exist")
+          )
+          expect(File).not_to have_received(:new).with(snapshot_path, 'w+')
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     context 'when UPDATE_SNAPSHOTS environment variable is not set' do
       before do
         allow(ENV).to receive(:fetch).and_call_original