-      _error->Error("The repository '%s' is no longer signed.",
-                    URIDesc.c_str());
-      Rename(MetaIndexFile, MetaIndexFile+".FAILED");
-      Status = pkgAcquire::Item::StatError;
-      TransactionManager->AbortTransaction();
-      return;
+      std::string downgrade_msg;
+      strprintf(downgrade_msg, _("The repository '%s' is no longer signed."),
+                URIDesc.c_str());
+      if(_config->FindB("Acquire::AllowDowngradeToInsecureRepositories"))
+      {
+         // meh, the users wants to take risks (we still mark the packages
+         // from this repository as unauthenticated)
+         _error->Warning("%s", downgrade_msg.c_str());
+         _error->Warning(_("This is normally not allowed, but the option "
+                           "Acquire::AllowDowngradeToInsecureRepositories was "
+                           "given to override it."));
+         
+      } else {
+         _error->Error("%s", downgrade_msg.c_str());
+         Rename(MetaIndexFile, MetaIndexFile+".FAILED");
+         Status = pkgAcquire::Item::StatError;
+         TransactionManager->AbortTransaction();
+         return;
+      }