diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bf49958..a3d1836 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -108,14 +108,19 @@ We can perform a total validation of the CAP XML file:
 ```bash
 capvalidator validate <cap-file-directory>
 ```
+By default this includes schema and signature validation.
 
-To disable strict validation, that is, enforcement of a valid XML signature, we can use the `--no-strict` argument:
+To manually enable/disable enforcement of a valid XML signature, we can use the `--strict` or `--no-strict` arguments respectively:
 
 ```bash
-capvalidator validate <cap_file-directory> --no-strict
+capvalidator validate --strict <cap_file-directory> 
 ```
 
-Or, alternatively, more refined validations:
+```bash
+capvalidator validate --no-strict <cap_file-directory> 
+```
+
+Or, alternatively, for more refined validations we can use the `--type` argument:
 ```bash
 capvalidator validate --type schema <cap-file-directory>
 ```
diff --git a/src/capvalidator/cli.py b/src/capvalidator/cli.py
index c32b565..0d7d7de 100644
--- a/src/capvalidator/cli.py
+++ b/src/capvalidator/cli.py
@@ -15,14 +15,17 @@ def cli():
 @click.option('--type', 'validation_type',
               type=click.Choice(['total', 'schema', 'signature']),
               required=False, default='total')
+@click.option('--strict/--no-strict', 'strict',
+              required=False, default=True,
+              help='Disable validation of the XML signature')
 @click.argument('cap_xml', type=click.File(mode="rb", errors="ignore"))
-def validate(ctx, cap_xml, validation_type) -> None:
+def validate(ctx, cap_xml, validation_type, strict=True) -> None:
     """Validate a CAP alert"""
 
     cap = cap_xml.read()
 
     if validation_type == "total":
-        result = validate_xml(cap)
+        result = validate_xml(cap, strict=strict)
     elif validation_type == "schema":
         result = check_schema(cap)
     elif validation_type == "signature":