diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9a46a38ef..df61cf166 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ RESET := $(shell tput -T linux sgr0)
 TITLE := $(BOLD)$(PURPLE)
 SUCCESS := $(BOLD)$(GREEN)
 # the quality gate lower threshold for unit test total % coverage (by function statements)
-COVERAGE_THRESHOLD := 69
+COVERAGE_THRESHOLD := 72
 
 ifndef TEMPDIR
     $(error TEMPDIR is not set)