diff --git a/pkg/name/options.go b/pkg/name/options.go
index d14fedcda..8047506e5 100644
--- a/pkg/name/options.go
+++ b/pkg/name/options.go
@@ -26,10 +26,11 @@ const (
 )
 
 type options struct {
-	strict          bool // weak by default
-	insecure        bool // secure by default
-	defaultRegistry string
-	defaultTag      string
+	strict           bool // weak by default
+	insecure         bool // secure by default
+	ignoreValidation bool // validation by default
+	defaultRegistry  string
+	defaultTag       string
 }
 
 func makeOptions(opts ...Option) options {
@@ -59,6 +60,13 @@ func WeakValidation(opts *options) {
 	opts.strict = false
 }
 
+// IgnoreValidation is an Option that does not require image references to be
+// valid. This is useful for testing purposes, but should not be used in
+// production code.
+func IgnoreValidation(opts *options) {
+	opts.ignoreValidation = true
+}
+
 // Insecure is an Option that allows image references to be fetched without TLS.
 func Insecure(opts *options) {
 	opts.insecure = true
diff --git a/pkg/name/registry.go b/pkg/name/registry.go
index 5e6b6e62a..4b714a223 100644
--- a/pkg/name/registry.go
+++ b/pkg/name/registry.go
@@ -124,8 +124,10 @@ func NewRegistry(name string, opts ...Option) (Registry, error) {
 		return Registry{}, newErrBadName("strict validation requires the registry to be explicitly defined")
 	}
 
-	if err := checkRegistry(name); err != nil {
-		return Registry{}, err
+	if !opt.ignoreValidation {
+		if err := checkRegistry(name); err != nil {
+			return Registry{}, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	if name == "" {
diff --git a/pkg/name/repository.go b/pkg/name/repository.go
index 290797575..bf11f464c 100644
--- a/pkg/name/repository.go
+++ b/pkg/name/repository.go
@@ -93,8 +93,10 @@ func NewRepository(name string, opts ...Option) (Repository, error) {
 		repo = parts[1]
 	}
 
-	if err := checkRepository(repo); err != nil {
-		return Repository{}, err
+	if !opt.ignoreValidation {
+		if err := checkRepository(repo); err != nil {
+			return Repository{}, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	reg, err := NewRegistry(registry, opts...)
diff --git a/pkg/name/tag.go b/pkg/name/tag.go
index 3848dc201..5562f3b63 100644
--- a/pkg/name/tag.go
+++ b/pkg/name/tag.go
@@ -91,9 +91,11 @@ func NewTag(name string, opts ...Option) (Tag, error) {
 	// even when not being strict.
 	// If we are being strict, we want to validate the tag regardless in case
 	// it's empty.
-	if tag != "" || opt.strict {
-		if err := checkTag(tag); err != nil {
-			return Tag{}, err
+	if !opt.ignoreValidation {
+		if tag != "" || opt.strict {
+			if err := checkTag(tag); err != nil {
+				return Tag{}, err
+			}
 		}
 	}