diff --git a/check_home_assistant_state.py b/check_home_assistant_state.py
index b13c66b..c4596ff 100755
--- a/check_home_assistant_state.py
+++ b/check_home_assistant_state.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import logging
 import re
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, Literal
 from urllib.parse import urljoin
 
 import nagiosplugin
@@ -148,6 +148,16 @@ class Entities(nagiosplugin.Resource):
             max=self.max,
         )
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _parse_negatable(filter: str) -> tuple[Literal["select", "reject"], str]:
+        if filter.startswith("!"):
+            filter = filter[1:]
+            op = "reject"
+        else:
+            op = "select"
+
+        return op, filter
+
     def probe(self):
         template_filter = "states"
         if self.domain:
@@ -163,12 +173,14 @@ class Entities(nagiosplugin.Resource):
             )
 
         if self.area:
+            op, area = self._parse_negatable(self.area)
             template_filter += (
-                f"|selectattr('entity_id', 'in', area_entities('{ self.area }'))"
+                f"|{op}attr('entity_id', 'in', area_entities('{ area }'))"
             )
         if self.label:
+            op, label = self._parse_negatable(self.label)
             template_filter += (
-                f"|selectattr('entity_id', 'in', label_entities('{ self.label }'))"
+                f"|{op}attr('entity_id', 'in', label_entities('{ label }'))"
             )
 
         if self.exclude:
@@ -387,8 +399,12 @@ def main():
         action="extend",
         help="explicitly include entities by id. Other entities will not be considered if this is specified. Listed entities must also match the specified device class",
     )
-    common_args.add_argument("--area", type=str, help="area to filter by")
-    common_args.add_argument("--label", type=str, help="label to filter by")
+    common_args.add_argument(
+        "--area", type=str, help="area to filter by. '!' before negates"
+    )
+    common_args.add_argument(
+        "--label", type=str, help="label to filter by. '!' before negates"
+    )
     common_args.add_argument(
         "-e",
         "--exclude",