diff --git a/ethcore/res/ethereum/kovan.json b/ethcore/res/ethereum/kovan.json
index e9c059aaa..330b00c58 100644
--- a/ethcore/res/ethereum/kovan.json
+++ b/ethcore/res/ethereum/kovan.json
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@
   "params": {
     "maximumExtraDataSize": "0x20",
     "minGasLimit": "0x1388",
-    "networkID" : "0x2A"
+    "networkID" : "0x2A",
+    "validateReceipts" : false
   },
   "genesis": {
     "seal": {
diff --git a/ethcore/src/client/client.rs b/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
index 28dc6a839..127fa9367 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ impl Client {
 			})?;
 
 			// Final Verification
-			if let Err(e) = self.verifier.verify_block_final(header, locked_block.block().header()) {
+			if let Err(e) = self.verifier.verify_block_final(header, locked_block.block().header(), self.engine().params().validate_receipts) {
 				warn!(target: "client", "Stage 4 block verification failed for #{} ({})\nError: {:?}", header.number(), header.hash(), e);
 				return Err(());
 			}
diff --git a/ethcore/src/spec/spec.rs b/ethcore/src/spec/spec.rs
index b65dafe91..25f958bad 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/spec/spec.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/spec/spec.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ pub struct CommonParams {
 	pub min_gas_limit: U256,
 	/// Fork block to check.
 	pub fork_block: Option<(BlockNumber, H256)>,
+	/// Validate block receipts root.
+	pub validate_receipts: bool,
 }
 
 impl From<ethjson::spec::Params> for CommonParams {
@@ -65,6 +67,7 @@ impl From<ethjson::spec::Params> for CommonParams {
 			subprotocol_name: p.subprotocol_name.unwrap_or_else(|| "eth".to_owned()),
 			min_gas_limit: p.min_gas_limit.into(),
 			fork_block: if let (Some(n), Some(h)) = (p.fork_block, p.fork_hash) { Some((n.into(), h.into())) } else { None },
+			validate_receipts: p.validate_receipts.unwrap_or(true),
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/ethcore/src/verification/canon_verifier.rs b/ethcore/src/verification/canon_verifier.rs
index 75b0943ea..48dc5bbe9 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/verification/canon_verifier.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/verification/canon_verifier.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ impl Verifier for CanonVerifier {
 		verification::verify_block_family(header, bytes, engine, bc)
 	}
 
-	fn verify_block_final(&self, expected: &Header, got: &Header) -> Result<(), Error> {
-		verification::verify_block_final(expected, got)
+	fn verify_block_final(&self, expected: &Header, got: &Header, receipts: bool) -> Result<(), Error> {
+		verification::verify_block_final(expected, got, receipts)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/ethcore/src/verification/noop_verifier.rs b/ethcore/src/verification/noop_verifier.rs
index 83ca11efd..dca36020d 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/verification/noop_verifier.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/verification/noop_verifier.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ impl Verifier for NoopVerifier {
 		Ok(())
 	}
 
-	fn verify_block_final(&self, _expected: &Header, _got: &Header) -> Result<(), Error> {
+	fn verify_block_final(&self, _expected: &Header, _got: &Header, _receipts: bool) -> Result<(), Error> {
 		Ok(())
 	}
 }
diff --git a/ethcore/src/verification/verification.rs b/ethcore/src/verification/verification.rs
index 6e2ba4492..93fa1c9aa 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/verification/verification.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/verification/verification.rs
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ pub fn verify_block_family(header: &Header, bytes: &[u8], engine: &Engine, bc: &
 }
 
 /// Phase 4 verification. Check block information against transaction enactment results,
-pub fn verify_block_final(expected: &Header, got: &Header) -> Result<(), Error> {
+pub fn verify_block_final(expected: &Header, got: &Header, check_receipts: bool) -> Result<(), Error> {
 	if expected.gas_used() != got.gas_used() {
 		return Err(From::from(BlockError::InvalidGasUsed(Mismatch { expected: expected.gas_used().clone(), found: got.gas_used().clone() })))
 	}
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ pub fn verify_block_final(expected: &Header, got: &Header) -> Result<(), Error>
 	if expected.state_root() != got.state_root() {
 		return Err(From::from(BlockError::InvalidStateRoot(Mismatch { expected: expected.state_root().clone(), found: got.state_root().clone() })))
 	}
-	if expected.receipts_root() != got.receipts_root() {
+	if check_receipts && expected.receipts_root() != got.receipts_root() {
 		return Err(From::from(BlockError::InvalidReceiptsRoot(Mismatch { expected: expected.receipts_root().clone(), found: got.receipts_root().clone() })))
 	}
 	Ok(())
diff --git a/ethcore/src/verification/verifier.rs b/ethcore/src/verification/verifier.rs
index f3cea1a78..68de0bea0 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/verification/verifier.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/verification/verifier.rs
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@ pub trait Verifier: Send + Sync {
 	/// Verify a block relative to its parent and uncles.
 	fn verify_block_family(&self, header: &Header, bytes: &[u8], engine: &Engine, bc: &BlockProvider) -> Result<(), Error>;
 	/// Do a final verification check for an enacted header vs its expected counterpart.
-	fn verify_block_final(&self, expected: &Header, got: &Header) -> Result<(), Error>;
+	fn verify_block_final(&self, expected: &Header, got: &Header, receipts: bool) -> Result<(), Error>;
 }
diff --git a/json/src/spec/params.rs b/json/src/spec/params.rs
index 9831ce61e..94c17446d 100644
--- a/json/src/spec/params.rs
+++ b/json/src/spec/params.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ pub struct Params {
 	/// Expected fork block hash.
 	#[serde(rename="forkCanonHash")]
 	pub fork_hash: Option<H256>,
+	/// See `CommonParams` docs.
+	#[serde(rename="validateReceipts")]
+	pub validate_receipts: Option<bool>,
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]