diff --git a/arch/arm64/Kconfig b/arch/arm64/Kconfig
index 697ea0510729..f940500a941b 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/arm64/Kconfig
@@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ config KEXEC_FILE
 	  for kernel and initramfs as opposed to list of segments as
 	  accepted by previous system call.
 
-config KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+config KEXEC_SIG
 	bool "Verify kernel signature during kexec_file_load() syscall"
 	depends on KEXEC_FILE
 	help
@@ -976,13 +976,13 @@ config KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
 config KEXEC_IMAGE_VERIFY_SIG
 	bool "Enable Image signature verification support"
 	default y
-	depends on KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+	depends on KEXEC_SIG
 	depends on EFI && SIGNED_PE_FILE_VERIFICATION
 	help
 	  Enable Image signature verification support.
 
 comment "Support for PE file signature verification disabled"
-	depends on KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+	depends on KEXEC_SIG
 	depends on !EFI || !SIGNED_PE_FILE_VERIFICATION
 
 config CRASH_DUMP
diff --git a/arch/s390/Kconfig b/arch/s390/Kconfig
index 109243fdb6ec..c4a423f30d49 100644
--- a/arch/s390/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/s390/Kconfig
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ config ARCH_HAS_KEXEC_PURGATORY
 	def_bool y
 	depends on KEXEC_FILE
 
-config KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+config KEXEC_SIG
 	bool "Verify kernel signature during kexec_file_load() syscall"
 	depends on KEXEC_FILE && SYSTEM_DATA_VERIFICATION
 	help
diff --git a/arch/s390/configs/debug_defconfig b/arch/s390/configs/debug_defconfig
index b0920b35f87b..525e0a6addb9 100644
--- a/arch/s390/configs/debug_defconfig
+++ b/arch/s390/configs/debug_defconfig
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ CONFIG_NUMA=y
 CONFIG_PREEMPT=y
 CONFIG_HZ_100=y
 CONFIG_KEXEC_FILE=y
-CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG=y
+CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG=y
 CONFIG_EXPOLINE=y
 CONFIG_EXPOLINE_AUTO=y
 CONFIG_MEMORY_HOTPLUG=y
diff --git a/arch/s390/configs/defconfig b/arch/s390/configs/defconfig
index c59b922cb6c5..4c37279acdb4 100644
--- a/arch/s390/configs/defconfig
+++ b/arch/s390/configs/defconfig
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=256
 CONFIG_NUMA=y
 CONFIG_HZ_100=y
 CONFIG_KEXEC_FILE=y
-CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG=y
+CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG=y
 CONFIG_CRASH_DUMP=y
 CONFIG_HIBERNATION=y
 CONFIG_PM_DEBUG=y
diff --git a/arch/s390/configs/performance_defconfig b/arch/s390/configs/performance_defconfig
index 09aa5cb14873..158ad0f0d433 100644
--- a/arch/s390/configs/performance_defconfig
+++ b/arch/s390/configs/performance_defconfig
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ CONFIG_NR_CPUS=512
 CONFIG_NUMA=y
 CONFIG_HZ_100=y
 CONFIG_KEXEC_FILE=y
-CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG=y
+CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG=y
 CONFIG_EXPOLINE=y
 CONFIG_EXPOLINE_AUTO=y
 CONFIG_MEMORY_HOTPLUG=y
diff --git a/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_elf.c b/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_elf.c
index 6d0635ceddd0..9b4f37a4edf1 100644
--- a/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_elf.c
+++ b/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_elf.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ static int s390_elf_probe(const char *buf, unsigned long len)
 const struct kexec_file_ops s390_kexec_elf_ops = {
 	.probe = s390_elf_probe,
 	.load = s390_elf_load,
-#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC__SIG
 	.verify_sig = s390_verify_sig,
-#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG */
+#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG */
 };
diff --git a/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_image.c b/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_image.c
index 58318bf89fd9..af23eff5774d 100644
--- a/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_image.c
+++ b/arch/s390/kernel/kexec_image.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ static int s390_image_probe(const char *buf, unsigned long len)
 const struct kexec_file_ops s390_kexec_image_ops = {
 	.probe = s390_image_probe,
 	.load = s390_image_load,
-#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG
 	.verify_sig = s390_verify_sig,
-#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG */
+#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG */
 };
diff --git a/arch/s390/kernel/machine_kexec_file.c b/arch/s390/kernel/machine_kexec_file.c
index fbdd3ea73667..c0f33ba49a9a 100644
--- a/arch/s390/kernel/machine_kexec_file.c
+++ b/arch/s390/kernel/machine_kexec_file.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const struct kexec_file_ops * const kexec_file_loaders[] = {
 	NULL,
 };
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG
 /*
  * Module signature information block.
  *
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ int s390_verify_sig(const char *kernel, unsigned long kernel_len)
 				      VERIFYING_MODULE_SIGNATURE,
 				      NULL, NULL);
 }
-#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG */
+#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG */
 
 static int kexec_file_update_purgatory(struct kimage *image,
 				       struct s390_load_data *data)
diff --git a/arch/x86/Kconfig b/arch/x86/Kconfig
index 2bbbd4d1ba31..cd41998aa6e6 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/x86/Kconfig
@@ -2006,20 +2006,30 @@ config KEXEC_FILE
 config ARCH_HAS_KEXEC_PURGATORY
 	def_bool KEXEC_FILE
 
-config KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+config KEXEC_SIG
 	bool "Verify kernel signature during kexec_file_load() syscall"
 	depends on KEXEC_FILE
 	---help---
-	  This option makes kernel signature verification mandatory for
-	  the kexec_file_load() syscall.
 
-	  In addition to that option, you need to enable signature
+	  This option makes the kexec_file_load() syscall check for a valid
+	  signature of the kernel image.  The image can still be loaded without
+	  a valid signature unless you also enable KEXEC_SIG_FORCE, though if
+	  there's a signature that we can check, then it must be valid.
+
+	  In addition to this option, you need to enable signature
 	  verification for the corresponding kernel image type being
 	  loaded in order for this to work.
 
+config KEXEC_SIG_FORCE
+	bool "Require a valid signature in kexec_file_load() syscall"
+	depends on KEXEC_SIG
+	---help---
+	  This option makes kernel signature verification mandatory for
+	  the kexec_file_load() syscall.
+
 config KEXEC_BZIMAGE_VERIFY_SIG
 	bool "Enable bzImage signature verification support"
-	depends on KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+	depends on KEXEC_SIG
 	depends on SIGNED_PE_FILE_VERIFICATION
 	select SYSTEM_TRUSTED_KEYRING
 	---help---
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/ima_arch.c b/arch/x86/kernel/ima_arch.c
index 64b973f0e985..b98890894731 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/ima_arch.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/ima_arch.c
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ bool arch_ima_get_secureboot(void)
 
 /* secureboot arch rules */
 static const char * const sb_arch_rules[] = {
-#if !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG)
+#if !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG)
 	"appraise func=KEXEC_KERNEL_CHECK appraise_type=imasig",
-#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG */
+#endif /* CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG */
 	"measure func=KEXEC_KERNEL_CHECK",
 #if !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MODULE_SIG)
 	"appraise func=MODULE_CHECK appraise_type=imasig",
diff --git a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/verify_pefile.c b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/verify_pefile.c
index 3b303fe2f061..cc9dbcecaaca 100644
--- a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/verify_pefile.c
+++ b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/verify_pefile.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ static int pefile_parse_binary(const void *pebuf, unsigned int pelen,
 
 	if (!ddir->certs.virtual_address || !ddir->certs.size) {
 		pr_debug("Unsigned PE binary\n");
-		return -EKEYREJECTED;
+		return -ENODATA;
 	}
 
 	chkaddr(ctx->header_size, ddir->certs.virtual_address,
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@ static int pefile_digest_pe(const void *pebuf, unsigned int pelen,
  *  (*) 0 if at least one signature chain intersects with the keys in the trust
  *	keyring, or:
  *
+ *  (*) -ENODATA if there is no signature present.
+ *
  *  (*) -ENOPKG if a suitable crypto module couldn't be found for a check on a
  *	chain.
  *
diff --git a/include/linux/kexec.h b/include/linux/kexec.h
index b9b1bc5f9669..58b27c7bdc2b 100644
--- a/include/linux/kexec.h
+++ b/include/linux/kexec.h
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ typedef void *(kexec_load_t)(struct kimage *image, char *kernel_buf,
 			     unsigned long cmdline_len);
 typedef int (kexec_cleanup_t)(void *loader_data);
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG
 typedef int (kexec_verify_sig_t)(const char *kernel_buf,
 				 unsigned long kernel_len);
 #endif
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ struct kexec_file_ops {
 	kexec_probe_t *probe;
 	kexec_load_t *load;
 	kexec_cleanup_t *cleanup;
-#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG
 	kexec_verify_sig_t *verify_sig;
 #endif
 };
diff --git a/kernel/kexec_file.c b/kernel/kexec_file.c
index ef7b951a8087..972931201995 100644
--- a/kernel/kexec_file.c
+++ b/kernel/kexec_file.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ int __weak arch_kimage_file_post_load_cleanup(struct kimage *image)
 	return kexec_image_post_load_cleanup_default(image);
 }
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG
 static int kexec_image_verify_sig_default(struct kimage *image, void *buf,
 					  unsigned long buf_len)
 {
@@ -177,6 +177,51 @@ void kimage_file_post_load_cleanup(struct kimage *image)
 	image->image_loader_data = NULL;
 }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG
+static int
+kimage_validate_signature(struct kimage *image)
+{
+	const char *reason;
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = arch_kexec_kernel_verify_sig(image, image->kernel_buf,
+					   image->kernel_buf_len);
+	switch (ret) {
+	case 0:
+		break;
+
+		/* Certain verification errors are non-fatal if we're not
+		 * checking errors, provided we aren't mandating that there
+		 * must be a valid signature.
+		 */
+	case -ENODATA:
+		reason = "kexec of unsigned image";
+		goto decide;
+	case -ENOPKG:
+		reason = "kexec of image with unsupported crypto";
+		goto decide;
+	case -ENOKEY:
+		reason = "kexec of image with unavailable key";
+	decide:
+		if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG_FORCE)) {
+			pr_notice("%s rejected\n", reason);
+			return ret;
+		}
+
+		return 0;
+
+		/* All other errors are fatal, including nomem, unparseable
+		 * signatures and signature check failures - even if signatures
+		 * aren't required.
+		 */
+	default:
+		pr_notice("kernel signature verification failed (%d).\n", ret);
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+#endif
+
 /*
  * In file mode list of segments is prepared by kernel. Copy relevant
  * data from user space, do error checking, prepare segment list
@@ -186,7 +231,7 @@ kimage_file_prepare_segments(struct kimage *image, int kernel_fd, int initrd_fd,
 			     const char __user *cmdline_ptr,
 			     unsigned long cmdline_len, unsigned flags)
 {
-	int ret = 0;
+	int ret;
 	void *ldata;
 	loff_t size;
 
@@ -205,14 +250,11 @@ kimage_file_prepare_segments(struct kimage *image, int kernel_fd, int initrd_fd,
 	if (ret)
 		goto out;
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG
-	ret = arch_kexec_kernel_verify_sig(image, image->kernel_buf,
-					   image->kernel_buf_len);
-	if (ret) {
-		pr_debug("kernel signature verification failed.\n");
+#ifdef CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG
+	ret = kimage_validate_signature(image);
+
+	if (ret)
 		goto out;
-	}
-	pr_debug("kernel signature verification successful.\n");
 #endif
 	/* It is possible that there no initramfs is being loaded */
 	if (!(flags & KEXEC_FILE_NO_INITRAMFS)) {
diff --git a/security/integrity/ima/Kconfig b/security/integrity/ima/Kconfig
index 2692c7358c2c..32cd25fa44a5 100644
--- a/security/integrity/ima/Kconfig
+++ b/security/integrity/ima/Kconfig
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ config IMA_APPRAISE
 
 config IMA_ARCH_POLICY
         bool "Enable loading an IMA architecture specific policy"
-        depends on KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG || IMA_APPRAISE && INTEGRITY_ASYMMETRIC_KEYS
+        depends on KEXEC_SIG || IMA_APPRAISE && INTEGRITY_ASYMMETRIC_KEYS
         default n
         help
           This option enables loading an IMA architecture specific policy
diff --git a/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c b/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c
index f556e6c18f9b..1cffda4412b7 100644
--- a/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c
+++ b/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ int ima_load_data(enum kernel_load_data_id id)
 
 	switch (id) {
 	case LOADING_KEXEC_IMAGE:
-		if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_KEXEC_VERIFY_SIG)
+		if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_KEXEC_SIG)
 		    && arch_ima_get_secureboot()) {
 			pr_err("impossible to appraise a kernel image without a file descriptor; try using kexec_file_load syscall.\n");
 			return -EACCES;
