diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariants.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariants.java
index 2f4d24312..3e6ab050a 100755
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariants.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariants.java
@@ -46,16 +46,20 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 
 /**
- * Strictly validates a variants file.
+ * Validates a VCF file with an extra strict set of criteria.
  *
  * <p>
  * ValidateVariants is a GATK tool that takes a VCF file and validates much of the information inside it.
- * Checks include the correctness of the reference base(s), accuracy of AC & AN values, tests against rsIDs
- * when a dbSNP file is provided, and that all alternate alleles are present in at least one sample.
+ * In addition to standard adherence to the VCF specification, this tool performs extra checks to make ensure
+ * the information contained within the file is correct.  Checks include the correctness of the reference base(s),
+ * accuracy of AC & AN values, tests against rsIDs when a dbSNP file is provided, and that all alternate alleles
+ * are present in at least one sample.
+ *
+ * If you are looking simply to test the adherence to the VCF specification, use --validationType NONE.
  *
  * <h2>Input</h2>
  * <p>
- * A variant set to filter.
+ * A variant set to validate.
  * </p>
  *
  * <h2>Examples</h2>
@@ -79,10 +83,9 @@ public class ValidateVariants extends RodWalker<Integer, Integer> {
     protected DbsnpArgumentCollection dbsnp = new DbsnpArgumentCollection();
 
     public enum ValidationType {
-        ALL, REF, IDS, ALLELES, CHR_COUNTS
+        ALL, REF, IDS, ALLELES, CHR_COUNTS, NONE
     }
 
-    @Hidden
     @Argument(fullName = "validationType", shortName = "type", doc = "which validation type to run", required = false)
     protected ValidationType type = ValidationType.ALL;
 
diff --git a/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest.java b/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest.java
index 6a3d755d7..67d47997b 100755
--- a/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/variantutils/ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest.java
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 
 public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
 
+    protected static final String emptyMd5 = "d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e";
+
     public static String baseTestString(String file, String type) {
         return "-T ValidateVariants -R " + b36KGReference + " -L 1:10001292-10001303 --variant:vcf " + privateTestDir + file + " --validationType " + type;
     }
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
                 baseTestString("validationExampleGood.vcf", "ALL"),
                 0,
-                Arrays.asList("d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e")
+                Arrays.asList(emptyMd5)
         );
 
         executeTest("test good file", spec);
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
                 baseTestString("validationExampleBad.vcf", "REF"),
                 0,
-                UserException.MalformedFile.class
+                UserException.FailsStrictValidation.class
         );
 
         executeTest("test bad ref base #1", spec);
@@ -64,7 +66,7 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
                 baseTestString("validationExampleBad2.vcf", "REF"),
                 0,
-                UserException.MalformedFile.class
+                UserException.FailsStrictValidation.class
         );
 
         executeTest("test bad ref base #2", spec);
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
                 baseTestString("validationExampleBad.vcf", "CHR_COUNTS"),
                 0,
-                UserException.MalformedFile.class
+                UserException.FailsStrictValidation.class
         );
 
         executeTest("test bad chr counts #1", spec);
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
                 baseTestString("validationExampleBad2.vcf", "CHR_COUNTS"),
                 0,
-                UserException.MalformedFile.class
+                UserException.FailsStrictValidation.class
         );
 
         executeTest("test bad chr counts #2", spec);
@@ -97,7 +99,7 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
                 baseTestString("validationExampleBad.vcf", "IDS") + " --dbsnp " + b36dbSNP129,
                 0,
-                UserException.MalformedFile.class
+                UserException.FailsStrictValidation.class
         );
 
         executeTest("test bad RS ID", spec);
@@ -108,7 +110,7 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
             baseTestString("validationExampleBad.vcf", "ALLELES"),
             0,
-            UserException.MalformedFile.class
+            UserException.FailsStrictValidation.class
         );
 
         executeTest("test bad alt allele", spec);
@@ -119,18 +121,29 @@ public class ValidateVariantsIntegrationTest extends WalkerTest {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
             baseTestString("validationExampleBad3.vcf", "REF"),
             0,
-            UserException.MalformedFile.class
+            UserException.FailsStrictValidation.class
         );
 
         executeTest("test bad ref allele in deletion", spec);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testNoValidation() {
+        WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
+                baseTestString("validationExampleBad.vcf", "NONE"),
+                0,
+                Arrays.asList(emptyMd5)
+        );
+
+        executeTest("test no validation", spec);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testComplexEvents() {
         WalkerTestSpec spec = new WalkerTestSpec(
                 baseTestString("complexEvents.vcf", "ALL"),
                 0,
-                Arrays.asList("d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e")
+                Arrays.asList(emptyMd5)
         );
 
         executeTest("test validating complex events", spec);