diff --git a/saml/response.go b/saml/response.go
index cdd4264..4592db7 100644
--- a/saml/response.go
+++ b/saml/response.go
@@ -19,19 +19,21 @@ import (
 )
 
 type parseResponseOptions struct {
-	clock                            clockwork.Clock
-	skipRequestIDValidation          bool
-	skipAssertionConditionValidation bool
-	skipSignatureValidation          bool
-	assertionConsumerServiceURL      string
+	clock                                   clockwork.Clock
+	skipRequestIDValidation                 bool
+	skipAssertionConditionValidation        bool
+	skipSignatureValidation                 bool
+	assertionConsumerServiceURL             string
+	requireSignatureForResponseAndAssertion bool
 }
 
 func parseResponseOptionsDefault() parseResponseOptions {
 	return parseResponseOptions{
-		clock:                            clockwork.NewRealClock(),
-		skipRequestIDValidation:          false,
-		skipAssertionConditionValidation: false,
-		skipSignatureValidation:          false,
+		clock:                                   clockwork.NewRealClock(),
+		skipRequestIDValidation:                 false,
+		skipAssertionConditionValidation:        false,
+		skipSignatureValidation:                 false,
+		requireSignatureForResponseAndAssertion: false,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -73,6 +75,15 @@ func InsecureSkipSignatureValidation() Option {
 	}
 }
 
+// RequireSignatureForBothResponseAndAssertion enables validation of both the SAML Response and its assertions.
+func RequireSignatureForBothResponseAndAssertion() Option {
+	return func(o interface{}) {
+		if o, ok := o.(*parseResponseOptions); ok {
+			o.requireSignatureForResponseAndAssertion = true
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // ParseResponse parses and validates a SAML Reponse.
 //
 // Options:
@@ -87,6 +98,8 @@ func (sp *ServiceProvider) ParseResponse(
 	opt ...Option,
 ) (*core.Response, error) {
 	const op = "saml.(ServiceProvider).ParseResponse"
+	opts := getParseResponseOptions(opt...)
+
 	switch {
 	case sp == nil:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: missing service provider %w", op, ErrInternal)
@@ -94,8 +107,10 @@ func (sp *ServiceProvider) ParseResponse(
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: missing saml response: %w", op, ErrInvalidParameter)
 	case requestID == "":
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: missing request ID: %w", op, ErrInvalidParameter)
+	case opts.skipSignatureValidation && opts.requireSignatureForResponseAndAssertion:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: option `skip signature validation` cannot be true with `require signature"+
+			" for response and assertion` : %w", op, ErrInvalidParameter)
 	}
-	opts := getParseResponseOptions(opt...)
 
 	// We use github.com/russellhaering/gosaml2 for SAMLResponse signature and condition validation.
 	ip, err := sp.internalParser(
@@ -152,9 +167,11 @@ func (sp *ServiceProvider) ParseResponse(
 	}
 
 	samlResponse := core.Response{Response: *response}
-	if !opts.skipSignatureValidation {
+	if opts.requireSignatureForResponseAndAssertion {
 		// func ip.ValidateEncodedResponse(...) above only requires either `response or all its `assertions` are signed,
-		// but does not require both. Adding another check to validate that both of these are signed always.
+		// but does not require both.
+		// If option requireSignatureForResponseAndAssertion is true, adding another check to validate that both of
+		// these are signed always.
 		if err := validateSignature(&samlResponse, op); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/saml/response_test.go b/saml/response_test.go
index 63842bd..28efa65 100644
--- a/saml/response_test.go
+++ b/saml/response_test.go
@@ -59,12 +59,33 @@ func TestServiceProvider_ParseResponse(t *testing.T) {
 		wantErrAs       error
 	}{
 		{
-			name:      "success",
+			name:      "success - with both response and assertion signed",
 			sp:        testSp,
-			samlResp:  base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithCompleteResponseSigned()))),
+			samlResp:  base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithResponseAndAssertionSigned()))),
 			opts:      []saml.Option{},
 			requestID: testRequestId,
 		},
+		{
+			name:      "success - with just response signed",
+			sp:        testSp,
+			samlResp:  base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithJustResponseElemSigned()))),
+			opts:      []saml.Option{},
+			requestID: testRequestId,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "success - with just assertion signed",
+			sp:        testSp,
+			samlResp:  base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithJustAssertionElemSigned()))),
+			opts:      []saml.Option{},
+			requestID: testRequestId,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "success - with both response and assertion signed and both signature required",
+			sp:        testSp,
+			samlResp:  base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithResponseAndAssertionSigned()))),
+			opts:      []saml.Option{saml.RequireSignatureForBothResponseAndAssertion()},
+			requestID: testRequestId,
+		},
 		{
 			name:            "missing signature",
 			sp:              testSp,
@@ -74,18 +95,18 @@ func TestServiceProvider_ParseResponse(t *testing.T) {
 			wantErrContains: "response and/or assertions must be signed",
 		},
 		{
-			name:            "error-invalid-signature",
+			name:            "error-invalid-signature - with just response signed",
 			sp:              testSp,
 			samlResp:        base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithJustResponseElemSigned()))),
-			opts:            []saml.Option{},
+			opts:            []saml.Option{saml.RequireSignatureForBothResponseAndAssertion()},
 			requestID:       testRequestId,
 			wantErrContains: "invalid signature",
 		},
 		{
-			name:            "error-invalid-signature",
+			name:            "error-invalid-signature - with just assertion signed",
 			sp:              testSp,
 			samlResp:        base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithJustAssertionElemSigned()))),
-			opts:            []saml.Option{},
+			opts:            []saml.Option{saml.RequireSignatureForBothResponseAndAssertion()},
 			requestID:       testRequestId,
 			wantErrContains: "invalid signature",
 		},
@@ -167,7 +188,7 @@ func TestServiceProvider_ParseResponse(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:            "err-in-response-to",
 			sp:              testSp,
-			samlResp:        base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithCompleteResponseSigned()))),
+			samlResp:        base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t, testprovider.WithResponseAndAssertionSigned()))),
 			requestID:       "invalid-request-id",
 			wantErrContains: "doesn't match the expected requestID (invalid-request-id)",
 		},
@@ -175,7 +196,7 @@ func TestServiceProvider_ParseResponse(t *testing.T) {
 			name: "expired",
 			sp:   testSp,
 			samlResp: base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(tp.SamlResponse(t,
-				testprovider.WithCompleteResponseSigned(),
+				testprovider.WithResponseAndAssertionSigned(),
 				testprovider.WithResponseExpired(),
 			))),
 			requestID:       "request-id",
diff --git a/saml/test/provider.go b/saml/test/provider.go
index fa4d8f5..9b8a35d 100644
--- a/saml/test/provider.go
+++ b/saml/test/provider.go
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ func defaultResponseOptions() *responseOptions {
 	return &responseOptions{}
 }
 
-func WithCompleteResponseSigned() ResponseOption {
+func WithResponseAndAssertionSigned() ResponseOption {
 	return func(o *responseOptions) {
 		o.signResponseElem = true
 		o.signAssertionElem = true