diff --git a/.github/docs/openapi3filter.txt b/.github/docs/openapi3filter.txt
index 2dbca0444..fadf3b315 100644
--- a/.github/docs/openapi3filter.txt
+++ b/.github/docs/openapi3filter.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const ErrCodeOK = 0 ...
-var DefaultOptions = &Options{}
 var ErrAuthenticationServiceMissing = errors.New("missing AuthenticationFunc")
 var ErrInvalidEmptyValue = errors.New("empty value is not allowed")
 var ErrInvalidRequired = errors.New("value is required but missing")
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b85af9864..500f07a5c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ For more fine-grained control over the error message, you can pass a custom `ope
 
 ```go
 func validationOptions() *openapi3filter.Options {
-	options := openapi3filter.DefaultOptions
+	options := &openapi3filter.Options{}
 	options.WithCustomSchemaErrorFunc(safeErrorMessage)
 	return options
 }
@@ -269,6 +269,9 @@ This will change the schema validation errors to return only the `Reason` field,
 
 ## Sub-v0 breaking API changes
 
+### v0.116.0
+* Dropped `openapi3filter.DefaultOptions`. Use `&openapi3filter.Options{}` directly instead.
+
 ### v0.113.0
 * The string format `email` has been removed by default. To use it please call `openapi3.DefineStringFormat("email", openapi3.FormatOfStringForEmail)`.
 * Field `openapi3.T.Components` is now a pointer.
diff --git a/openapi3filter/options.go b/openapi3filter/options.go
index 4ea9e9907..4bda60a26 100644
--- a/openapi3filter/options.go
+++ b/openapi3filter/options.go
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@ package openapi3filter
 
 import "github.com/getkin/kin-openapi/openapi3"
 
-// DefaultOptions do not set an AuthenticationFunc.
-// A spec with security schemes defined will not pass validation
-// unless an AuthenticationFunc is defined.
-var DefaultOptions = &Options{}
-
 // Options used by ValidateRequest and ValidateResponse
 type Options struct {
 	// Set ExcludeRequestBody so ValidateRequest skips request body validation
@@ -27,6 +22,8 @@ type Options struct {
 
 	MultiError bool
 
+	// A document with security schemes defined will not pass validation
+	// unless an AuthenticationFunc is defined.
 	// See NoopAuthenticationFunc
 	AuthenticationFunc AuthenticationFunc
 
diff --git a/openapi3filter/validate_request.go b/openapi3filter/validate_request.go
index a8106a7c8..f4debcda1 100644
--- a/openapi3filter/validate_request.go
+++ b/openapi3filter/validate_request.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func ValidateRequest(ctx context.Context, input *RequestValidationInput) (err er
 
 	options := input.Options
 	if options == nil {
-		options = DefaultOptions
+		options = &Options{}
 	}
 	route := input.Route
 	operation := route.Operation
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func ValidateParameter(ctx context.Context, input *RequestValidationInput, param
 
 	options := input.Options
 	if options == nil {
-		options = DefaultOptions
+		options = &Options{}
 	}
 
 	var value interface{}
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func ValidateRequestBody(ctx context.Context, input *RequestValidationInput, req
 
 	options := input.Options
 	if options == nil {
-		options = DefaultOptions
+		options = &Options{}
 	}
 
 	if req.Body != http.NoBody && req.Body != nil {
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func validateSecurityRequirement(ctx context.Context, input *RequestValidationIn
 	// Get authentication function
 	options := input.Options
 	if options == nil {
-		options = DefaultOptions
+		options = &Options{}
 	}
 	f := options.AuthenticationFunc
 	if f == nil {
diff --git a/openapi3filter/validate_response.go b/openapi3filter/validate_response.go
index 08ea4e19d..dca13380a 100644
--- a/openapi3filter/validate_response.go
+++ b/openapi3filter/validate_response.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func ValidateResponse(ctx context.Context, input *ResponseValidationInput) error
 	route := input.RequestValidationInput.Route
 	options := input.Options
 	if options == nil {
-		options = DefaultOptions
+		options = &Options{}
 	}
 
 	// Find input for the current status