diff --git a/cmd_mirror.go b/cmd_mirror.go
index 4b381df5..ad531110 100644
--- a/cmd_mirror.go
+++ b/cmd_mirror.go
@@ -10,6 +10,43 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
+func getVerifier(cmd *commander.Command) (utils.Verifier, error) {
+	if utils.Config.GpgDisableVerify || cmd.Flag.Lookup("ignore-signatures").Value.Get().(bool) {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	verifier := &utils.GpgVerifier{}
+	for _, keyRing := range keyRings.keyRings {
+		verifier.AddKeyring(keyRing)
+	}
+
+	err := verifier.InitKeyring()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return verifier, nil
+}
+
+type keyRingsFlag struct {
+	keyRings []string
+}
+
+func (k *keyRingsFlag) Set(value string) error {
+	k.keyRings = append(k.keyRings, value)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (k *keyRingsFlag) Get() interface{} {
+	return k.keyRings
+}
+
+func (k *keyRingsFlag) String() string {
+	return strings.Join(k.keyRings, ",")
+}
+
+var keyRings = keyRingsFlag{}
+
 func aptlyMirrorList(cmd *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 	var err error
 	if len(args) != 0 {
@@ -53,7 +90,12 @@ func aptlyMirrorCreate(cmd *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create mirror: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	err = repo.Fetch(context.downloader)
+	verifier, err := getVerifier(cmd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize GPG verifier: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	err = repo.Fetch(context.downloader, verifier)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to fetch mirror: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -140,7 +182,12 @@ func aptlyMirrorUpdate(cmd *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	ignoreMismatch := cmd.Flag.Lookup("ignore-checksums").Value.Get().(bool)
 
-	err = repo.Fetch(context.downloader)
+	verifier, err := getVerifier(cmd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize GPG verifier: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	err = repo.Fetch(context.downloader, verifier)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to update: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -215,6 +262,9 @@ ex:
 		Flag: *flag.NewFlagSet("aptly-mirror-create", flag.ExitOnError),
 	}
 
+	cmd.Flag.Bool("ignore-signatures", false, "disable verification of Release file signatures")
+	cmd.Flag.Var(&keyRings, "keyring", "gpg keyring to use when verifying Release file (could be specified multiple times)")
+
 	return cmd
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +320,8 @@ ex:
 	}
 
 	cmd.Flag.Bool("ignore-checksums", false, "ignore checksum mismatches while downloading package files and metadata")
+	cmd.Flag.Bool("ignore-signatures", false, "disable verification of Release file signatures")
+	cmd.Flag.Var(&keyRings, "keyring", "gpg keyring to use when verifying Release file (could be specified multiple times)")
 
 	return cmd
 }
diff --git a/cmd_publish.go b/cmd_publish.go
index 1094f681..47ef2f3f 100644
--- a/cmd_publish.go
+++ b/cmd_publish.go
@@ -10,6 +10,27 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
+func getSigner(cmd *commander.Command) (utils.Signer, error) {
+	if cmd.Flag.Lookup("skip-signing").Value.Get().(bool) || utils.Config.GpgDisableSign {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	signer := &utils.GpgSigner{}
+
+	key := cmd.Flag.Lookup("gpg-key").Value.String()
+	if key != "" {
+		signer.SetKey(key)
+	}
+
+	err := signer.Init()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return signer, nil
+
+}
+
 func aptlyPublishSnapshot(cmd *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 	var err error
 	if len(args) < 1 || len(args) > 2 {
@@ -65,9 +86,6 @@ func aptlyPublishSnapshot(cmd *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	signer := &utils.GpgSigner{}
-	signer.SetKey(cmd.Flag.Lookup("gpg-key").Value.String())
-
 	published, err := debian.NewPublishedRepo(prefix, distribution, component, context.architecturesList, snapshot)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to publish: %s", err)
@@ -79,6 +97,11 @@ func aptlyPublishSnapshot(cmd *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("prefix/distribution already used by another published repo: %s", duplicate)
 	}
 
+	signer, err := getSigner(cmd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize GPG signer: %s", err)
+	}
+
 	packageCollection := debian.NewPackageCollection(context.database)
 	err = published.Publish(context.packageRepository, packageCollection, signer)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -188,6 +211,7 @@ ex.
 	cmd.Flag.String("distribution", "", "distribution name to publish")
 	cmd.Flag.String("component", "", "component name to publish")
 	cmd.Flag.String("gpg-key", "", "GPG key ID to use when signing the release")
+	cmd.Flag.Bool("skip-signing", false, "don't sign Release files with GPG")
 
 	return cmd
 }