diff --git a/doc/gpg.texi b/doc/gpg.texi
index ff66301d1..f6c445658 100644
--- a/doc/gpg.texi
+++ b/doc/gpg.texi
@@ -2957,6 +2957,17 @@ This option adjusts the compliance mode "de-vs" for stricter key size
 requirements.  For example, a value of 3000 turns rsa2048 and dsa2048
 keys into non-VS-NfD compliant keys.
 
+@item --require-compliance
+@opindex require-compliance
+To check that data has been encrypted according to the rules of the
+current compliance mode, a gpg user needs to evaluate the status
+lines.  This is allows frontends to handle compliance check in a more
+flexible way.  However, for scripted use the required evaluation of
+the status-line requires quite some effort; this option can be used
+instead to make sure that the gpg process exits with a failure if the
+compliance rules are not fulfilled.  Note that this option has
+currently an effect only in "de-vs" mode.
+
 @end table
 
 
diff --git a/g10/encrypt.c b/g10/encrypt.c
index bca7344f4..28a761747 100644
--- a/g10/encrypt.c
+++ b/g10/encrypt.c
@@ -847,6 +847,17 @@ encrypt_crypt (ctrl_t ctrl, int filefd, const char *filename,
                           gnupg_status_compliance_flag (CO_DE_VS),
                           NULL);
 
+  if (opt.flags.require_compliance
+      && opt.compliance == CO_DE_VS
+      && !compliant)
+    {
+      log_error (_("operation forced to fail due to"
+                   " unfulfilled compliance rules\n"));
+      rc = gpg_error (GPG_ERR_FORBIDDEN);
+      g10_errors_seen = 1;
+      goto leave;
+    }
+
   cfx.dek->use_aead = use_aead (pk_list, cfx.dek->algo);
   if (!cfx.dek->use_aead)
     cfx.dek->use_mdc = !!use_mdc (pk_list, cfx.dek->algo);
diff --git a/g10/gpg.c b/g10/gpg.c
index 1155f501c..4883493db 100644
--- a/g10/gpg.c
+++ b/g10/gpg.c
@@ -442,6 +442,7 @@ enum cmd_and_opt_values
     oChUid,
     oForceSignKey,
     oForbidGenKey,
+    oRequireCompliance,
 
     oNoop
   };
@@ -911,6 +912,7 @@ static gpgrt_opt_t opts[] = {
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oNoAutostart, "no-autostart", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oUseKeyboxd,    "use-keyboxd", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oForbidGenKey,  "forbid-gen-key", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_n (oRequireCompliance, "require-compliance", "@"),
   /* Options which can be used in special circumstances. They are not
    * published and we hope they are never required.  */
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oUseOnlyOpenPGPCard, "use-only-openpgp-card", "@"),
@@ -3731,6 +3733,10 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
             mopt.forbid_gen_key = 1;
             break;
 
+          case oRequireCompliance:
+            opt.flags.require_compliance = 1;
+            break;
+
 	  case oNoop: break;
 
 	  default:
diff --git a/g10/mainproc.c b/g10/mainproc.c
index f44e68453..70685fab9 100644
--- a/g10/mainproc.c
+++ b/g10/mainproc.c
@@ -546,6 +546,7 @@ proc_encrypted (CTX c, PACKET *pkt)
 {
   int result = 0;
   int early_plaintext = literals_seen;
+  unsigned int compliance_de_vs = 0;
 
   if (pkt->pkttype == PKT_ENCRYPTED_AEAD)
     c->seen_pkt_encrypted_aead = 1;
@@ -721,10 +722,12 @@ proc_encrypted (CTX c, PACKET *pkt)
       xfree (pk);
 
       if (compliant)
-        write_status_strings (STATUS_DECRYPTION_COMPLIANCE_MODE,
-                              gnupg_status_compliance_flag (CO_DE_VS),
-                              NULL);
-
+        {
+          write_status_strings (STATUS_DECRYPTION_COMPLIANCE_MODE,
+                                gnupg_status_compliance_flag (CO_DE_VS),
+                                NULL);
+          compliance_de_vs |= 1;
+        }
     }
 
   if (!result)
@@ -779,9 +782,15 @@ proc_encrypted (CTX c, PACKET *pkt)
         log_info(_("decryption okay\n"));
 
       if (pkt->pkt.encrypted->aead_algo)
-        write_status (STATUS_GOODMDC);
+        {
+          write_status (STATUS_GOODMDC);
+          compliance_de_vs |= 2;
+        }
       else if (pkt->pkt.encrypted->mdc_method && !result)
-        write_status (STATUS_GOODMDC);
+        {
+          write_status (STATUS_GOODMDC);
+          compliance_de_vs |= 2;
+        }
       else
         log_info (_("WARNING: message was not integrity protected\n"));
     }
@@ -823,6 +832,17 @@ proc_encrypted (CTX c, PACKET *pkt)
    * a misplace extra literal data packets follows after this
    * encrypted packet.  */
   literals_seen++;
+
+  /* The --require-compliance option allows to simplify decryption in
+   * de-vs compliance mode by just looking at the exit status.  */
+  if (opt.flags.require_compliance
+      && opt.compliance == CO_DE_VS
+      && compliance_de_vs != (2|1))
+    {
+      log_error (_("operation forced to fail due to"
+                   " unfulfilled compliance rules\n"));
+      g10_errors_seen = 1;
+    }
 }
 
 
@@ -2439,6 +2459,15 @@ check_sig_and_print (CTX c, kbnode_t node)
         write_status_strings (STATUS_VERIFICATION_COMPLIANCE_MODE,
                               gnupg_status_compliance_flag (CO_DE_VS),
                               NULL);
+      else if (opt.flags.require_compliance
+               && opt.compliance == CO_DE_VS)
+        {
+          log_error (_("operation forced to fail due to"
+                       " unfulfilled compliance rules\n"));
+          if (!rc)
+            rc = gpg_error (GPG_ERR_FORBIDDEN);
+        }
+
 
       free_public_key (pk);
       pk = NULL;
diff --git a/g10/options.h b/g10/options.h
index 8df463ed4..10e61ea4c 100644
--- a/g10/options.h
+++ b/g10/options.h
@@ -269,6 +269,9 @@ struct
     /* The next flag is set internally iff IMPORT_CLEAN has
      * been set by the user and is not the default value.  */
     unsigned int expl_import_clean:1;
+    /* Fail if an operation can't be done in the requested compliance
+     * mode.  */
+    unsigned int require_compliance:1;
   } flags;
 
   /* Linked list of ways to find a key if the key isn't on the local