The effect of a feedback control on the onset of steady and oscillatory Benard-Marangoni instability in a rotating horizontal fluid layer is considered theoretically using linear stability theory. It is demonstrated that generally the critical Marangoni number for transition from the no-motion (conduction) to the motion state can be drastically increased by the combined effects of feedback control and rotation. The role of the controller gain parameter on the Pr - Ta and Pr - R/R-c parameter spaces, dividing stability domains into which either steady or oscillatory convection is preferred, is determined. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.