diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6caf4b9..54f8eea 100755
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -129,6 +129,13 @@
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([ACTIVE_BMC_MAX_ALLOWED], [$ACTIVE_BMC_MAX_ALLOWED],
     [The maximum allowed active BMC versions])
 
+# setup signature verification
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([verify_signature],
+    AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-verify_signature], [Enable image signature validation.]))
+AS_IF([test "x$enable_verify_signature" == "xyes"], \
+    [AC_DEFINE([WANT_SIGNATURE_VERIFY],[],[Enable image signature validation.])])
+AM_CONDITIONAL([WANT_SIGNATURE_VERIFY_BUILD], [test "x$enable_verify_signature" == "xyes"])
+
 AC_DEFINE(BUSNAME_UPDATER, "xyz.openbmc_project.Software.BMC.Updater",
     [The item updater DBus busname to own.])