diff --git a/check-label/action.yml b/check-label/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..513eb9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/check-label/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+name: Check Label
+description: Check package.json version bump matches label
+inputs:
+  github-token:
+    description: Github token
+    required: true
+    default: ${{ github.token }}
+  command:
+    description: command to run
+    required: true
+runs:
+  using: node16
+  pre: '../setup.mjs'
+  main: ../build/check-label/index.js
diff --git a/src/check-label/check-label-compare-match-semver.spec.ts b/src/check-label/check-label-compare-match-semver.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b22c7c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/check-label/check-label-compare-match-semver.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+// check-label/check-label-compare-match-semver.spec.ts
+
+import { strict as assert } from 'node:assert';
+
+import { validateVersion } from './check-label';
+
+const assertError = 'Version is incorrect based on Pull Request label';
+
+describe('compare and match semver', () => {
+  it('Test basic patch', async () => {
+    assert.equal(validateVersion('1.0.1', '1.0.0', 'patch'), true);
+
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('1.0.0', '1.0.0', 'patch'), {
+      message: assertError,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('Test minor', async () => {
+    assert.equal(validateVersion('1.1.0', '1.0.2', 'minor'), true);
+
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('1.1.1', '1.0.1', 'minor'), {
+      message: assertError,
+    });
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('1.1.2', '1.0.1', 'minor'), {
+      message: assertError,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('Test major', async () => {
+    assert.equal(validateVersion('2.0.0', '1.0.2', 'major'), true);
+
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('2.20.0', '1.20.1', 'major'), {
+      message: assertError,
+    });
+
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('2.0.1', '1.20.1', 'major'), {
+      message: assertError,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('Test major fails with large version gap', async () => {
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('8.0.0', '1.0.0', 'major'), {
+      message: assertError,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('Test throws when main is ahead', async () => {
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('8.0.0', '9.0.0', 'major'), {
+      message: 'main version is ahead of branch version',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('Test invalid label', async () => {
+    assert.throws(() => validateVersion('1.0.0', '1.0.0', 'invalid'), {
+      message: 'Invalid label',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/check-label/check-label.spec.ts b/src/check-label/check-label.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b0bfd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/check-label/check-label.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+// check-label/check-label.spec.ts
+
+import { strict as assert } from 'node:assert';
+import process from 'node:process';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
+import { mkdir, readFile, rm, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
+
+import gitHubNock from '../nocks/github.test';
+import checkLabel from './check-label';
+
+async function createContext(prNumber: number) {
+  process.env['GITHUB_REPOSITORY'] = 'checkdigit/testlabel';
+  const filePath = path.join(tmpdir(), 'actioncontexttestlabel', uuid());
+  await writeFile(
+    filePath,
+    JSON.stringify({
+      // eslint-disable-next-line camelcase
+      pull_request: {
+        number: prNumber,
+      },
+    })
+  );
+  process.env['GITHUB_EVENT_PATH'] = filePath;
+}
+
+function semverSubtract(version: string, versionLabel: 'patch' | 'major' | 'minor'): string {
+  const versionParts = version.split('.');
+  if (versionLabel === 'major' && Number(versionParts[1]) !== 0) {
+    versionParts[0] = (Number(versionParts[0]) - 1).toString();
+  }
+
+  if (versionLabel === 'minor' && Number(versionParts[1]) !== 0) {
+    versionParts[1] = (Number(versionParts[1]) - 1).toString();
+  }
+
+  if (versionLabel === 'patch' && Number(versionParts[2]) !== 0) {
+    versionParts[2] = (Number(versionParts[2]) - 1).toString();
+  }
+
+  return versionParts.join('.');
+}
+
+describe('check label', () => {
+  beforeAll(async () => mkdir(path.join(tmpdir(), 'actioncontexttestlabel')));
+  afterAll(async () => rm(path.join(tmpdir(), 'actioncontexttestlabel'), { recursive: true }));
+
+  it('Test with no labels throws correctly', async () => {
+    // assert that the call to checkLabel rejects a promise
+    await assert.rejects(checkLabel());
+  });
+
+  it('label matches - patch', async () => {
+    process.env['GITHUB_TOKEN'] = 'token 0000000000000000000000000000000000000001';
+
+    const packageJsonRaw = await readFile(path.join(process.cwd(), 'package.json'), 'utf8');
+    const packageJson = JSON.parse(packageJsonRaw);
+
+    const targetVersion = semverSubtract(packageJson.version, 'patch');
+    assert(targetVersion !== null);
+    gitHubNock({ labelPackageVersionMain: targetVersion });
+
+    await createContext(10);
+    // assert that the call to checkLabel rejects a promise
+    await assert.doesNotReject(checkLabel());
+  });
+
+  it('label does not match - should be major but is patch', async () => {
+    process.env['GITHUB_TOKEN'] = 'token 0000000000000000000000000000000000000001';
+
+    const packageJsonRaw = await readFile(path.join(process.cwd(), 'package.json'), 'utf8');
+    const packageJson = JSON.parse(packageJsonRaw);
+
+    const targetVersion = semverSubtract(packageJson.version, 'patch');
+    assert(targetVersion !== null);
+    gitHubNock({ labelPackageVersionMain: targetVersion });
+
+    await createContext(11);
+    // assert that the call to checkLabel rejects a promise
+
+    await assert.rejects(checkLabel(), {
+      message: 'Version is incorrect based on Pull Request label',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/check-label/check-label.ts b/src/check-label/check-label.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13f4fc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/check-label/check-label.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+// check-label/check-label.ts
+
+import process from 'node:process';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { strict as assert } from 'node:assert';
+import { readFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { debug } from 'debug';
+import semver from 'semver';
+
+import { getFileFromMain, getLabelsOnPR } from '../github-api';
+
+const log = debug('check-label');
+
+interface PackageJSON {
+  name: string;
+  version: string;
+  files: string[];
+}
+
+async function getLocalPackageJsonVersion(fileName: string): Promise<string> {
+  const packageJSONPath = path.join(process.cwd(), fileName);
+  const readPackageJson = await readFile(packageJSONPath, 'utf8');
+  const packageJson = JSON.parse(readPackageJson) as PackageJSON;
+
+  return packageJson.version;
+}
+
+export function validateVersion(
+  branchPackageJsonVersion: string,
+  mainPackageJsonVersion: string,
+  prLabel: string
+): true {
+  if (semver.gt(mainPackageJsonVersion, branchPackageJsonVersion)) {
+    log(`Main branch version: ${mainPackageJsonVersion} vs branch version: ${branchPackageJsonVersion}`);
+    throw new Error('main version is ahead of branch version');
+  }
+
+  const mainVersionSplit = mainPackageJsonVersion.split('.');
+
+  if (prLabel === 'patch') {
+    mainVersionSplit[2] = (Number(mainVersionSplit[2]) + 1).toString();
+  } else if (prLabel === 'minor') {
+    mainVersionSplit[1] = (Number(mainVersionSplit[1]) + 1).toString();
+    mainVersionSplit[2] = '0';
+  } else if (prLabel === 'major') {
+    mainVersionSplit[0] = (Number(mainVersionSplit[0]) + 1).toString();
+    mainVersionSplit[1] = '0';
+    mainVersionSplit[2] = '0';
+  } else {
+    throw new Error('Invalid label');
+  }
+
+  const expectedVersion = mainVersionSplit.join('.');
+  assert.equal(expectedVersion, branchPackageJsonVersion, 'Version is incorrect based on Pull Request label');
+  return true;
+}
+
+export default async function (): Promise<void> {
+  log('Action start');
+
+  const labelsPullRequest = await getLabelsOnPR();
+  if (labelsPullRequest.length > 1) {
+    throw new Error('PR has more than one label');
+  }
+  const label = labelsPullRequest[0]?.toLowerCase();
+  assert(label, 'Unable to get label from PR');
+
+  const branchPackageJsonVersion = await getLocalPackageJsonVersion('package.json');
+  const mainPackageJsonVersionRaw = await getFileFromMain('package.json');
+
+  if (!mainPackageJsonVersionRaw) {
+    throw new Error('Unable to get package.json from main branch');
+  }
+  const mainPackageJsonVersion = JSON.parse(mainPackageJsonVersionRaw) as PackageJSON;
+
+  validateVersion(branchPackageJsonVersion, mainPackageJsonVersion.version, label);
+
+  const branchLockFile = await getLocalPackageJsonVersion('package-lock.json');
+  assert.equal(branchLockFile, branchPackageJsonVersion, 'package.json and package-lock.json versions do not match');
+}
diff --git a/src/check-label/index.ts b/src/check-label/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8caa9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/check-label/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// check-label/index.ts
+
+import process from 'node:process';
+
+import checkLabel from './check-label';
+
+checkLabel()
+  .then(() => {
+    process.stdin.destroy();
+    // eslint-disable-next-line unicorn/no-process-exit
+    process.exit(0);
+  })
+  // eslint-disable-next-line unicorn/prefer-top-level-await
+  .catch((error) => {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.log('Action Error - exit 1 - error:', error);
+    // eslint-disable-next-line unicorn/no-process-exit
+    process.exit(1);
+  });
diff --git a/src/github-api/index.ts b/src/github-api/index.ts
index 1d750e1..59c33d3 100644
--- a/src/github-api/index.ts
+++ b/src/github-api/index.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,61 @@ export async function getPullRequestContext(): Promise<GithubConfigurationRespon
   }
 }
 
+export async function getFileFromMain(filename: string): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  if (!process.env['GITHUB_TOKEN']) {
+    log('getFileFromMain - GITHUB_TOKEN is not set - check action configuration');
+    throw new Error(THROW_ACTION_ERROR_MESSAGE);
+  }
+  const octokat = new Octokit({ auth: process.env['GITHUB_TOKEN'] });
+
+  const githubContext = await getPullRequestContext();
+  if (!githubContext) {
+    log('getFileFromMain Error - unable to get github context');
+    throw new Error(THROW_UNABLE_TO_GET_CONTEXT);
+  }
+
+  // get the labels attached to the PR
+  const { data } = (await octokat.rest.repos.getContent({
+    owner: githubContext.owner,
+    repo: githubContext.repo,
+    path: filename,
+    ref: 'main',
+    mediaType: {
+      format: 'raw',
+    },
+  })) as unknown as { data: string };
+
+  log('getFileFromMain - data', data);
+
+  if (!data) {
+    return;
+  }
+  return data;
+}
+
+export async function getLabelsOnPR(): Promise<string[]> {
+  if (!process.env['GITHUB_TOKEN']) {
+    log('getLabelsOnPR - GITHUB_TOKEN is not set - check action configuration');
+    throw new Error(THROW_ACTION_ERROR_MESSAGE);
+  }
+  const octokat = new Octokit({ auth: process.env['GITHUB_TOKEN'] });
+
+  const githubContext = await getPullRequestContext();
+  if (!githubContext) {
+    log('getLabelsOnPR Error - unable to get github context');
+    throw new Error(THROW_UNABLE_TO_GET_CONTEXT);
+  }
+
+  const pullReqeust = await octokat.rest.pulls.get({
+    owner: githubContext.owner,
+    repo: githubContext.repo,
+    // eslint-disable-next-line camelcase
+    pull_number: githubContext.number,
+  });
+
+  return pullReqeust.data.labels.map((label) => label.name);
+}
+
 export async function publishCommentAndRemovePrevious(
   message: string,
   prefixOfPreviousMessageToRemove?: string
diff --git a/src/nocks/github.test.ts b/src/nocks/github.test.ts
index c865743..62dbffd 100644
--- a/src/nocks/github.test.ts
+++ b/src/nocks/github.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 // nocks/github.test.ts
 import nock from 'nock';
 
-export default function (): void {
+export interface GithubNock {
+  labelPackageVersionMain?: string;
+}
+export default function (options?: GithubNock): void {
   nock('https://api.github.com/').persist().get('/repos/checkdigit/nocomments/issues/10/comments').reply(200);
   nock('https://api.github.com/').persist().post('/repos/checkdigit/nocomments/issues/10/comments').reply(200);
 
@@ -102,6 +105,37 @@ export default function (): void {
       },
     }));
 
+  // return label
+  nock('https://api.github.com/')
+    .persist()
+    .get('/repos/checkdigit/testlabel/pulls/10')
+    .reply(200, () => ({
+      labels: [{ name: 'patch' }],
+    }));
+
+  nock('https://api.github.com/')
+    .persist()
+    .get('/repos/checkdigit/testlabel/pulls/11')
+    .reply(200, () => ({
+      labels: [{ name: 'major' }],
+    }));
+
+  // return a raw package json file
+  nock('https://api.github.com/')
+    .persist()
+    .get('/repos/checkdigit/testlabel/contents/package.json?ref=main')
+    .reply(200, () => {
+      if (options?.labelPackageVersionMain) {
+        return `{"version": "${options.labelPackageVersionMain}"}`;
+      }
+      return '{"version": "1.0.0"}';
+    });
+
+  nock('https://api.github.com/')
+    .persist()
+    .get('/repos/checkdigit/testlabel/contents/package-lock.json?ref=main')
+    .reply(200, () => '{"version": "1.0.0"}');
+
   // allow delete operations to the two comments that should be deleted
   nock('https://api.github.com/').persist().delete('/repos/checkdigit/comments/issues/comments/1').reply(200);
   nock('https://api.github.com/').persist().delete('/repos/checkdigit/comments/issues/comments/3').reply(200);