diff --git a/kover-features-jvm/build.gradle.kts b/kover-features-jvm/build.gradle.kts
index b6a0b18e..a396c46b 100644
--- a/kover-features-jvm/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/kover-features-jvm/build.gradle.kts
@@ -28,13 +28,10 @@ extensions.configure<Kover_publishing_conventions_gradle.KoverPublicationExtensi
     description.set("Implementation of calling the main features of Kover programmatically")
 }
 
-java {
-    sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
-    targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
-}
-
-tasks.compileJava {
-    options.release.set(8)
+kotlin {
+    jvmToolchain {
+        languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(8))
+    }
 }
 
 // Workaround:
@@ -48,7 +45,7 @@ afterEvaluate {
             jvmTarget.set(JvmTarget.JVM_1_8)
             languageVersion.set(KotlinVersion.KOTLIN_1_5)
             apiVersion.set(KotlinVersion.KOTLIN_1_5)
-            freeCompilerArgs.addAll("-Xsuppress-version-warnings", "-Xjdk-release=1.8")
+            freeCompilerArgs.addAll("-Xsuppress-version-warnings")
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/api/kover-gradle-plugin.api b/kover-gradle-plugin/api/kover-gradle-plugin.api
index 576f21a4..f36cbdf8 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/api/kover-gradle-plugin.api
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/api/kover-gradle-plugin.api
@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ public abstract interface class kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/KoverVariantSour
 }
 
 public abstract interface class kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/KoverVerificationRulesConfig {
+	public abstract fun getWarningInsteadOfFailure ()Lorg/gradle/api/provider/Property;
 	public abstract fun rule (Ljava/lang/String;Lorg/gradle/api/Action;)V
 	public abstract fun rule (Lorg/gradle/api/Action;)V
 }
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/docs/configuring.md b/kover-gradle-plugin/docs/configuring.md
index 15948626..912f7438 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/docs/configuring.md
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/docs/configuring.md
@@ -29,11 +29,14 @@ koverReport {
   
     // verification rules for verification task
     verify {
+        // fail on verification error
+        warningInsteadOfFailure = false
+      
         // add common verification rule
         rule {
             // check this rule during verification 
             disabled = false
-  
+          
             // specify the code unit for which coverage will be aggregated 
             groupBy = kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.dsl.GroupingEntityType.APPLICATION
   
@@ -162,6 +165,9 @@ koverReport {
         verify {
             //  verify coverage when running the `check` task
             onCheck = true
+
+            // fail on verification error
+            warningInsteadOfFailure = false
         }
 
         // configure coverage logging
@@ -222,6 +228,9 @@ koverReport {
 
     // verification rules for verification tasks in all variants
     verify {
+        // fail on verification error
+        warningInsteadOfFailure = false
+      
         // add common verification rule
         rule {
             // check this rule during verification 
@@ -355,6 +364,10 @@ koverReport {
             //  verify coverage when running the `check` task
             onCheck = true
 
+
+            // fail on verification error
+            warningInsteadOfFailure = false
+
             // add verification rule
             rule {
                 // check this rule during verification 
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/BuildCacheRelocationTests.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/BuildCacheRelocationTests.kt
index 44b9246a..9d47fcbc 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/BuildCacheRelocationTests.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/BuildCacheRelocationTests.kt
@@ -59,7 +59,9 @@ class BuildCacheRelocationTests {
             assertEquals("FROM-CACHE", result2.taskOutcome(":koverXmlReport"))
             assertEquals("FROM-CACHE", result2.taskOutcome(":koverHtmlReport"))
             assertEquals("FROM-CACHE", result2.taskOutcome(":koverBinaryReport"))
-            assertEquals("FROM-CACHE", result2.taskOutcome(":koverVerify"))
+            assertEquals("FROM-CACHE", result2.taskOutcome(":koverCachedVerify"))
+            // should always be executed
+            assertEquals("SUCCESS", result2.taskOutcome(":koverVerify"))
         } catch (e: Throwable) {
             throw AssertionError("Build log \n${result2.output}",e)
         }
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/VerificationTests.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/VerificationTests.kt
index afebf52c..ccf4c8c0 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/VerificationTests.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/cases/VerificationTests.kt
@@ -175,6 +175,71 @@ Rule violated: lines missed count for package 'org.jetbrains.kover.test.function
         }
     }
 
+    @SlicedGeneratedTest(allLanguages = true, allTools = true)
+    fun BuildConfigurator.testRootRulesWarnOnFail() {
+        addProjectWithKover {
+            sourcesFrom("simple")
+
+            kover {
+                reports {
+                    verify {
+                        warningInsteadOfFailure.set(true)
+                        rule("root rule") {
+                            bound {
+                                minValue.set(99)
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        run("koverVerify", errorExpected = false) {
+            taskOutput(":koverVerify") {
+                match {
+                    assertContains("Kover Verification Error")
+                    assertKoverContains("Rule 'root rule' violated: lines covered percentage is *, but expected minimum is 99\n")
+                    assertJaCoCoContains("Rule violated: lines covered percentage is *, but expected minimum is 99.0000\n")
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    @SlicedGeneratedTest(allLanguages = true, allTools = true)
+    fun BuildConfigurator.testRootRulesOverrideWarnOnFail() {
+        addProjectWithKover {
+            sourcesFrom("simple")
+
+            kover {
+                reports {
+                    verify {
+                        warningInsteadOfFailure.set(false)
+                    }
+                    total {
+                        verify {
+                            warningInsteadOfFailure.set(true)
+                            rule("root rule") {
+                                bound {
+                                    minValue.set(99)
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        run("koverVerify", errorExpected = false) {
+            taskOutput(":koverVerify") {
+                match {
+                    assertContains("Kover Verification Error")
+                    assertKoverContains("Rule 'root rule' violated: lines covered percentage is *, but expected minimum is 99\n")
+                    assertJaCoCoContains("Rule violated: lines covered percentage is *, but expected minimum is 99.0000\n")
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     @SlicedGeneratedTest(allLanguages = true, allTools = true)
     fun BuildConfigurator.testRootRulesOverride() {
         addProjectWithKover {
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/Checker.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/Checker.kt
index 54ea8a95..224ce6c3 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/Checker.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/Checker.kt
@@ -117,6 +117,10 @@ private class CheckerContextImpl(
         VerifyReportCheckerImpl(this, verificationResultFile.readText()).checker()
     }
 
+    override fun String.match(matcher: TextMatcher.() -> Unit) {
+        TextMatcherImpl(this@CheckerContextImpl, this).matcher()
+    }
+
     override fun checkDefaultBinReport(mustExist: Boolean) {
         if (mustExist) {
             file(defaultBinReport) {
@@ -416,6 +420,31 @@ private class VerifyReportCheckerImpl(val context: CheckerContextImpl, val conte
     }
 }
 
+private class TextMatcherImpl(val context: CheckerContextImpl, val content: String) : TextMatcher {
+    override fun assertContains(expected: String) {
+        val regex = KoverFeatures.koverWildcardToRegex(expected).toRegex()
+        if (!content.contains(regex)) {
+            throw AssertionError("Unexpected text.\n\tActual\n[\n$content\n]\nExpected regex\n[\n$expected\n]")
+        }
+    }
+
+    override fun assertKoverContains(expected: String) {
+        if (context.project.toolVariant.vendor != CoverageToolVendor.KOVER) return
+        val regex = KoverFeatures.koverWildcardToRegex(expected).toRegex()
+        if (!content.contains(regex)) {
+            throw AssertionError("Unexpected text for Kover Tool.\n\tActual\n[\n$content\n]\nExpected regex\n[\n$expected\n]")
+        }
+    }
+
+    override fun assertJaCoCoContains(expected: String) {
+        if (context.project.toolVariant.vendor != CoverageToolVendor.JACOCO) return
+        val regex = KoverFeatures.koverWildcardToRegex(expected).toRegex()
+        if (!content.contains(regex)) {
+            throw AssertionError("Unexpected text for JaCoCo Tool.\n\tActual\n[\n$content\n]\nExpected regex\n[\n$expected\n]")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 private fun Element.filter(tag: String, attributeName: String, attributeValue: String): Element? {
     val elements = getElementsByTagName(tag)
     for (i in 0 until elements.length) {
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/CheckerTypes.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/CheckerTypes.kt
index 9b7a4bb0..ebcb9cb9 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/CheckerTypes.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/functionalTest/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/test/functional/framework/checker/CheckerTypes.kt
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ internal interface CheckerContext {
 
     fun verification(checker: VerifyReportChecker.() -> Unit)
 
+    fun String.match(matcher: TextMatcher.() -> Unit)
+
     val defaultBinReport: String
 
     fun checkXmlReport(variantName: String = "", mustExist: Boolean = true)
@@ -89,6 +91,12 @@ internal interface VerifyReportChecker {
     fun assertJaCoCoResult(expected: String)
 }
 
+internal interface TextMatcher {
+    fun assertContains(expected: String)
+    fun assertKoverContains(expected: String)
+    fun assertJaCoCoContains(expected: String)
+}
+
 internal interface XmlReportChecker {
     fun classCounter(className: String, type: String = "INSTRUCTION"): Counter
     fun methodCounter(className: String, methodName: String, type: String = "INSTRUCTION"): Counter
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/appliers/tasks/VariantReportsSet.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/appliers/tasks/VariantReportsSet.kt
index eacf5a66..1a669ea8 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/appliers/tasks/VariantReportsSet.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/appliers/tasks/VariantReportsSet.kt
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ internal class VariantReportsSet(
     private val htmlTask: TaskProvider<KoverHtmlTask>
     private val xmlTask: TaskProvider<KoverXmlTask>
     private val binTask: TaskProvider<KoverBinaryTask>
-    private val verifyTask: TaskProvider<KoverVerifyTask>
+    private val doVerifyTask: TaskProvider<KoverDoVerifyTask>
     private val logTask: TaskProvider<KoverFormatCoverageTask>
 
     init {
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@ internal class VariantReportsSet(
             "Task to generate binary coverage report in IntelliJ format for ${variantSuffix()}"
         )
 
-        verifyTask = project.tasks.createReportTask<KoverVerifyTask>(
-            verifyTaskName(variantName),
+        doVerifyTask = project.tasks.createReportTask<KoverDoVerifyTask>(
+            verifyCachedTaskName(variantName),
             "Task to validate coverage bounding rules for ${variantSuffix()}"
         )
+        val verifyTask = project.tasks.register<KoverVerifyTask>(verifyTaskName(variantName))
+
         logTask = project.tasks.createReportTask<KoverFormatCoverageTask>(
             logTaskName(variantName),
             "Task to print coverage to log for ${variantSuffix()}"
@@ -93,20 +95,37 @@ internal class VariantReportsSet(
             if (run) listOf(binTask) else emptyList()
         }
 
-        verifyTask.configure {
+
+        doVerifyTask.configure {
             val resultRules = config.verify.rules
             val converted = resultRules.map { rules -> rules.map { it.convert() } }
 
+            filters.set((config.filters).convert())
+            rules.addAll(converted)
+
             // path can't be changed
             resultFile.convention(project.layout.buildDirectory.file(verificationErrorsPath(variantName)))
 
-            filters.set((config.filters).convert())
-            rules.addAll(converted)
+            description = "Cacheable task for performing verification for ${variantSuffix()}"
+        }
+        verifyTask.configure {
+            warningInsteadOfFailure.convention(config.verify.warningInsteadOfFailure)
+            errorFile.convention(doVerifyTask.flatMap { it.resultFile })
 
             shouldRunAfter(htmlTask)
             shouldRunAfter(xmlTask)
             shouldRunAfter(binTask)
             shouldRunAfter(logTask)
+
+            dependsOn(doVerifyTask)
+
+            group = LifecycleBasePlugin.VERIFICATION_GROUP
+
+            // always execute
+            outputs.upToDateWhen { false }
+
+            val koverDisabledProvider = koverDisabled
+            onlyIf { !koverDisabledProvider.get() }
         }
         runOnCheck += config.verify.onCheck.map { run ->
             if (run) listOf(verifyTask) else emptyList()
@@ -117,6 +136,9 @@ internal class VariantReportsSet(
             onlyIf {
                 fileWithMessage.asFile.get().exists()
             }
+
+            // always execute
+            outputs.upToDateWhen { false }
         }
 
         logTask.configure {
@@ -146,7 +168,7 @@ internal class VariantReportsSet(
         htmlTask.assign(variant)
         xmlTask.assign(variant)
         binTask.assign(variant)
-        verifyTask.assign(variant)
+        doVerifyTask.assign(variant)
         logTask.assign(variant)
     }
 
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/commons/Naming.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/commons/Naming.kt
index 30a1606a..222fef40 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/commons/Naming.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/commons/Naming.kt
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ internal fun xmlReportTaskName(variant: String) = "$XML_REPORT_NAME${variant.cap
  */
 internal fun binaryReportTaskName(variant: String) = "$BINARY_REPORT_NAME${variant.capitalized()}"
 
+/**
+ * Name for cached verifying task for specified report namespace.
+ */
+internal fun verifyCachedTaskName(variant: String) = "koverCachedVerify${variant.capitalized()}"
 /**
  * Name for verifying task for specified report namespace.
  */
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/KoverReportsConfig.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/KoverReportsConfig.kt
index 703093fc..9abcf61a 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/KoverReportsConfig.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/KoverReportsConfig.kt
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ public interface KoverReportsConfig {
      *      rule("custom rule name") {
      *          // named verification rule
      *      }
+     *
+     *      // fail on verification error
+     *      warningInsteadOfFailure = false
      *  }
      * ```
      */
@@ -313,6 +316,9 @@ public interface KoverReportSetConfig {
      *      rule("Custom Name") {
      *          // ...
      *      }
+     *
+     *      // fail on verification error
+     *      warningInsteadOfFailure = false
      *  }
      * ```
      */
@@ -884,6 +890,9 @@ public interface KoverBinaryTaskConfig {
  *      rule("Custom Name") {
  *          // ...
  *      }
+ *
+ *      // fail on verification error
+ *      warningInsteadOfFailure = false
  *  }
  * ```
  */
@@ -910,6 +919,9 @@ public interface KoverVerifyTaskConfig: KoverVerificationRulesConfig {
  *      rule("custom rule name") {
  *          // named verification rule
  *      }
+ *
+ *      // fail on verification error
+ *      warningInsteadOfFailure = false
  *  }
  * ```
  */
@@ -926,6 +938,15 @@ public interface KoverVerificationRulesConfig {
      * The name will be displayed in case of a verification error if Kover Tool was used.
      */
     public fun rule(name: String, config: Action<KoverVerifyRule>)
+
+    /**
+     * In case of a verification error, print a message to the log with the warn level instead of the Gradle task execution error.
+     *
+     * Gradle task error if `false`, warn message if `true`.
+     *
+     * `false` by default.
+     */
+    public val warningInsteadOfFailure: Property<Boolean>
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/internal/ReportsImpl.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/internal/ReportsImpl.kt
index fb79fa31..1bde791a 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/internal/ReportsImpl.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/dsl/internal/ReportsImpl.kt
@@ -137,6 +137,11 @@ internal abstract class KoverVerificationRulesConfigImpl @Inject constructor(
 ) : KoverVerificationRulesConfig {
     internal abstract val rules: ListProperty<KoverVerifyRuleImpl>
 
+    init {
+        @Suppress("LeakingThis")
+        warningInsteadOfFailure.convention(false)
+    }
+
     override fun rule(config: Action<KoverVerifyRule>) {
         val newRule = objects.newInstance<KoverVerifyRuleImpl>(objects, "")
         config(newRule)
@@ -152,6 +157,7 @@ internal abstract class KoverVerificationRulesConfigImpl @Inject constructor(
 
     internal fun extendFrom(other: KoverVerificationRulesConfigImpl) {
         rules.addAll(other.rules)
+        warningInsteadOfFailure.convention(other.warningInsteadOfFailure)
     }
 
     internal fun clean() {
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tasks/reports/KoverDoVerifyTask.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tasks/reports/KoverDoVerifyTask.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8400490d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tasks/reports/KoverDoVerifyTask.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2017-2023 JetBrains s.r.o. Use of this source code is governed by the Apache 2.0 license.
+ */
+
+package kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tasks.reports
+
+import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.VerificationRule
+import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.generateErrorMessage
+import org.gradle.api.file.RegularFileProperty
+import org.gradle.api.provider.ListProperty
+import org.gradle.api.tasks.*
+
+@CacheableTask
+internal abstract class KoverDoVerifyTask : AbstractKoverReportTask() {
+    @get:Nested
+    abstract val rules: ListProperty<VerificationRule>
+
+    @get:OutputFile
+    abstract val resultFile: RegularFileProperty
+
+    @TaskAction
+    fun verify() {
+        val enabledRules = rules.get().filter { it.isEnabled }
+        val violations = tool.get().verify(enabledRules, context())
+
+        val errorMessage = generateErrorMessage(violations)
+        resultFile.get().asFile.writeText(errorMessage)
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tasks/reports/KoverVerifyTask.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tasks/reports/KoverVerifyTask.kt
index 50b0fc96..ec52d43e 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tasks/reports/KoverVerifyTask.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tasks/reports/KoverVerifyTask.kt
@@ -4,27 +4,35 @@
 
 package kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tasks.reports
 
-import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.VerificationRule
+import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.KoverVerificationException
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.dsl.tasks.KoverVerifyReport
+import org.gradle.api.DefaultTask
 import org.gradle.api.file.RegularFileProperty
-import org.gradle.api.provider.ListProperty
-import org.gradle.api.tasks.CacheableTask
-import org.gradle.api.tasks.Nested
-import org.gradle.api.tasks.OutputFile
-import org.gradle.api.tasks.TaskAction
+import org.gradle.api.provider.Property
+import org.gradle.api.tasks.*
+import org.gradle.work.DisableCachingByDefault
 
-@CacheableTask
-internal abstract class KoverVerifyTask : AbstractKoverReportTask(), KoverVerifyReport {
-    @get:Nested
-    abstract val rules: ListProperty<VerificationRule>
+@DisableCachingByDefault
+internal abstract class KoverVerifyTask : DefaultTask(), KoverVerifyReport {
+    @get:Input
+    abstract val warningInsteadOfFailure: Property<Boolean>
 
-    @get:OutputFile
-    abstract val resultFile: RegularFileProperty
+    @get:InputFile
+    abstract val errorFile: RegularFileProperty
 
     @TaskAction
     fun verify() {
-        val enabledRules = rules.get().filter { it.isEnabled }
-        tool.get().verify(enabledRules, resultFile.get().asFile, context())
+        val errorMessage = errorFile.get().asFile.readText()
+        if (errorMessage.isEmpty()) {
+            // no errors
+            return
+        }
+
+        if (warningInsteadOfFailure.get()) {
+            logger.warn("Kover Verification Error\n$errorMessage")
+        } else {
+            throw KoverVerificationException(errorMessage)
+        }
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/CoverageTool.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/CoverageTool.kt
index e0ad49de..d78269fe 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/CoverageTool.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/CoverageTool.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 package kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools
 
+import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.RuleViolations
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.*
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.VerificationRule
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.dsl.*
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ internal interface CoverageTool {
     /**
      * Perform verification.
      */
-    fun verify(rules: List<VerificationRule>, outputFile: File, context: ReportContext)
+    fun verify(rules: List<VerificationRule>, context: ReportContext): List<RuleViolations>
 
     /**
      * Calculate coverage according to the specified parameters [request], for each grouped entity.
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/Verification.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/Verification.kt
index 0e90f6b6..226af0c7 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/Verification.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/Verification.kt
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ internal data class CoverageRequest(
 ): Serializable
 
 internal fun generateErrorMessage(violations: List<RuleViolations>): String {
+    if (violations.isEmpty()) {
+        return ""
+    }
     val messageBuilder = StringBuilder()
 
     violations.forEach { rule ->
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/JacocoTool.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/JacocoTool.kt
index 403877b2..05aa9107 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/JacocoTool.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/JacocoTool.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 package kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.jacoco
 
+import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.KoverLegacyFeatures
+import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.RuleViolations
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.ReportContext
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.VerificationRule
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.CoverageRequest
@@ -47,8 +49,8 @@ internal class JacocoTool(override val variant: CoverageToolVariant) : CoverageT
         throw GradleException("It is not possible to generate an Kover binary report for JaCoCo. Please use Kover toolset")
     }
 
-    override fun verify(rules: List<VerificationRule>, outputFile: File, context: ReportContext) {
-        context.jacocoVerify(rules, outputFile)
+    override fun verify(rules: List<VerificationRule>, context: ReportContext): List<RuleViolations> {
+        return context.doJacocoVerify(rules)
     }
 
     override fun collectCoverage(
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/Verification.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/Verification.kt
index be9b5eea..5c598d6a 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/Verification.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/jacoco/Verification.kt
@@ -11,32 +11,15 @@ import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.Rule
 import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.RuleViolations
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.*
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.dsl.AggregationType
-import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.dsl.GroupingEntityType
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.dsl.CoverageUnit
-import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.generateErrorMessage
+import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.dsl.GroupingEntityType
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.kover.convert
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.util.ONE_HUNDRED
 import org.gradle.internal.reflect.JavaMethod
-import java.io.File
 import java.math.BigDecimal
 import java.util.*
 
 
-internal fun ReportContext.jacocoVerify(
-    rules: List<VerificationRule>,
-    outputFile: File
-) {
-    val violations = doJacocoVerify(rules)
-
-    val errorMessage = generateErrorMessage(violations)
-    outputFile.writeText(errorMessage)
-
-    if (violations.isNotEmpty()) {
-        throw KoverVerificationException(errorMessage)
-    }
-}
-
-
 internal fun ReportContext.doJacocoVerify(rules: List<VerificationRule>): List<RuleViolations> {
 
     callAntReport(projectPath) {
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/kover/KoverTool.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/kover/KoverTool.kt
index 3707ad0f..9affbb2a 100644
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/kover/KoverTool.kt
+++ b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/kover/KoverTool.kt
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 package kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.kover
 
 import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.KoverFeatures
+import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.KoverLegacyFeatures
+import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.RuleViolations
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.ReportContext
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.VerificationRule
 import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.CoverageRequest
@@ -53,10 +55,15 @@ internal class KoverTool(override val variant: CoverageToolVariant) : CoverageTo
 
     override fun verify(
         rules: List<VerificationRule>,
-        outputFile: File,
         context: ReportContext
-    ) {
-        context.koverVerify(rules, outputFile)
+    ): List<RuleViolations>{
+        return KoverLegacyFeatures.verify(
+            rules.map { it.convert() },
+            context.tempDir,
+            context.filters.toKoverFeatures(),
+            context.files.reports.toList(),
+            context.files.outputs.toList()
+        )
     }
 
     override fun collectCoverage(request: CoverageRequest, outputFile: File, context: ReportContext) {
diff --git a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/kover/Verification.kt b/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/kover/Verification.kt
deleted file mode 100644
index 0b96524c..00000000
--- a/kover-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/kover/gradle/plugin/tools/kover/Verification.kt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2017-2023 JetBrains s.r.o. Use of this source code is governed by the Apache 2.0 license.
- */
-
-package kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.kover
-
-import kotlinx.kover.features.jvm.KoverLegacyFeatures
-import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.commons.*
-import kotlinx.kover.gradle.plugin.tools.generateErrorMessage
-import java.io.File
-
-internal fun ReportContext.koverVerify(specifiedRules: List<VerificationRule>, outputReportFile: File) {
-    val violations = KoverLegacyFeatures.verify(
-        specifiedRules.map { it.convert() },
-        tempDir,
-        filters.toKoverFeatures(),
-        files.reports.toList(),
-        files.outputs.toList()
-    )
-
-    val errorMessage = generateErrorMessage(violations)
-    outputReportFile.writeText(errorMessage)
-
-    if (violations.isNotEmpty()) {
-        throw KoverVerificationException(errorMessage)
-    }
-}