diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bf405efc..05d026fc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -145,6 +145,24 @@ jobs:
           all_but_latest: true
 ```
 
+### Advanced: Skip runs that are in progress
+
+Some workflows may be dangerous to cancel when they are in progress. If you want to play safe and cancel only workflows that are in state `waiting`, most likely waiting for approval to be deployed in a protected environment, use `only_status` to only cancel runs with a specific status. 
+
+```yml
+name: Cancel
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  cancel:
+    name: 'Cancel Previous Runs'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 3
+    steps:
+      - uses: styfle/cancel-workflow-action
+        with:
+          only_status: 'waiting'
+```
+
 ### Advanced: Token Permissions
 
 No change to permissions is required by default. The instructions below are for improved control over of those permissions.
@@ -174,4 +192,5 @@ _Note_ : This is typical when global access is set to be restrictive. Only this
 - Run `yarn install`
 - Edit `./src/index.ts`
 - Run `yarn build`
+- Run `yarn format`
 - Commit changes including `./dist/index.js` bundle
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 54af1d4d..c1618fef 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -17,9 +17,12 @@ inputs:
     default: ${{ github.token }}
     required: false
   all_but_latest:
-    description: "Cancel all actions but the last one"
+    description: "Optional - Cancel all actions but the most recent one."
     required: false
     default: 'false'
+  only_status:
+    description: "Optional - Cancel runs with a specific status, such as `waiting`."
+    required: false
 runs:
   using: 'node16'
   main: 'dist/index.js'
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 853fcd71..f4730ad8 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -9706,6 +9706,7 @@ async function main() {
     const workflow_id = core.getInput('workflow_id', { required: false });
     const ignore_sha = core.getBooleanInput('ignore_sha', { required: false });
     const all_but_latest = core.getBooleanInput('all_but_latest', { required: false });
+    const only_status = core.getInput('only_status', { required: false });
     console.log(`Found token: ${token ? 'yes' : 'no'}`);
     const workflow_ids = [];
     const octokit = github.getOctokit(token);
@@ -9751,7 +9752,7 @@ async function main() {
             const runningWorkflows = workflow_runs.filter(run => run.head_repository.id === trigger_repo_id &&
                 run.id !== current_run.id &&
                 (ignore_sha || run.head_sha !== headSha) &&
-                run.status !== 'completed' &&
+                (only_status ? run.status === only_status : run.status !== 'completed') &&
                 new Date(run.created_at) < cancelBefore);
             if (all_but_latest && new Date(current_run.created_at) < cancelBefore) {
                 runningWorkflows.push(current_run);
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 93d04dbc..87888e1d 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ async function main() {
   const workflow_id = core.getInput('workflow_id', { required: false });
   const ignore_sha = core.getBooleanInput('ignore_sha', { required: false });
   const all_but_latest = core.getBooleanInput('all_but_latest', { required: false });
+  const only_status = core.getInput('only_status', { required: false });
   console.log(`Found token: ${token ? 'yes' : 'no'}`);
   const workflow_ids: string[] = [];
   const octokit = github.getOctokit(token);
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ async function main() {
             run.head_repository.id === trigger_repo_id &&
             run.id !== current_run.id &&
             (ignore_sha || run.head_sha !== headSha) &&
-            run.status !== 'completed' &&
+            (only_status ? run.status === only_status : run.status !== 'completed') &&
             new Date(run.created_at) < cancelBefore,
         );
         if (all_but_latest && new Date(current_run.created_at) < cancelBefore) {