diff --git a/doc/gpg.texi b/doc/gpg.texi
index 0c53bc1d4..7842e6200 100644
--- a/doc/gpg.texi
+++ b/doc/gpg.texi
@@ -1669,12 +1669,13 @@ claim" signatures are always accepted.
 
 @item --trusted-key @var{long key ID or fingerprint}
 @opindex trusted-key
-Assume that the specified key (which must be given
-as a full 8 byte key ID or 20 byte fingerprint) is as trustworthy as one of
-your own secret keys. This option is useful if you
-don't want to keep your secret keys (or one of them)
+Assume that the specified key (which should be given as fingerprint)
+is as trustworthy as one of your own secret keys. This option is
+useful if you don't want to keep your secret keys (or one of them)
 online but still want to be able to check the validity of a given
-recipient's or signator's key.
+recipient's or signator's key.  If the given key is not locally
+available but an LDAP keyserver is configured the missing key is
+imported from that server.
 
 @item --trust-model @{pgp|classic|tofu|tofu+pgp|direct|always|auto@}
 @opindex trust-model
diff --git a/g10/getkey.c b/g10/getkey.c
index 8dd585ea9..1e6d7fb9f 100644
--- a/g10/getkey.c
+++ b/g10/getkey.c
@@ -558,6 +558,42 @@ leave:
 }
 
 
+/* Same as get_pubkey but if the key was not found the function tries
+ * to import it from LDAP.  FIXME: We should not need this but swicth
+ * to a fingerprint lookup.  */
+gpg_error_t
+get_pubkey_with_ldap_fallback (ctrl_t ctrl, PKT_public_key *pk, u32 *keyid)
+{
+  gpg_error_t err;
+
+  err = get_pubkey (ctrl, pk, keyid);
+  if (!err)
+    return 0;
+
+  if (gpg_err_code (err) != GPG_ERR_NO_PUBKEY)
+    return err;
+
+  /* Note that this code does not handle the case for two readers
+   * having both openpgp encryption keys.  Only one will be tried.  */
+  if (opt.debug)
+    log_debug ("using LDAP to find a public key\n");
+  err = keyserver_import_keyid (ctrl, keyid,
+                                opt.keyserver, KEYSERVER_IMPORT_FLAG_LDAP);
+  if (gpg_err_code (err) == GPG_ERR_NO_DATA
+      || gpg_err_code (err) == GPG_ERR_NO_KEYSERVER)
+    {
+      /* Dirmngr returns NO DATA is the selected keyserver
+       * does not have the requested key.  It returns NO
+       * KEYSERVER if no LDAP keyservers are configured.  */
+      err = gpg_error (GPG_ERR_NO_PUBKEY);
+    }
+  if (err)
+    return err;
+
+  return get_pubkey (ctrl, pk, keyid);
+}
+
+
 /* Similar to get_pubkey, but it does not take PK->REQ_USAGE into
  * account nor does it merge in the self-signed data.  This function
  * also only considers primary keys.  It is intended to be used as a
diff --git a/g10/keydb.h b/g10/keydb.h
index e1a316cca..3ffd7691a 100644
--- a/g10/keydb.h
+++ b/g10/keydb.h
@@ -322,6 +322,10 @@ gpg_error_t get_pubkey_for_sig (ctrl_t ctrl,
 /* Return the public key with the key id KEYID and store it at PK.  */
 int get_pubkey (ctrl_t ctrl, PKT_public_key *pk, u32 *keyid);
 
+/* Same as get_pubkey but with auto LDAP fetch.  */
+gpg_error_t get_pubkey_with_ldap_fallback (ctrl_t ctrl,
+                                           PKT_public_key *pk, u32 * keyid);
+
 /* Similar to get_pubkey, but it does not take PK->REQ_USAGE into
    account nor does it merge in the self-signed data.  This function
    also only considers primary keys.  */
diff --git a/g10/trustdb.c b/g10/trustdb.c
index 98e9e35a1..116cbe604 100644
--- a/g10/trustdb.c
+++ b/g10/trustdb.c
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ verify_own_keys (ctrl_t ctrl)
           PKT_public_key pk;
 
           memset (&pk, 0, sizeof pk);
-          rc = get_pubkey (ctrl, &pk, k->kid);
+          rc = get_pubkey_with_ldap_fallback (ctrl, &pk, k->kid);
           if (rc)
 	    log_info(_("key %s: no public key for trusted key - skipped\n"),
 		     keystr(k->kid));