diff --git a/contrib/post_test_hook.sh b/contrib/post_test_hook.sh
index aeb4013..2eb494f 100644
--- a/contrib/post_test_hook.sh
+++ b/contrib/post_test_hook.sh
@@ -53,10 +53,12 @@
 # a "fast' or "slow test" gate
 TYPE=$2
 
-# Set rbac_flag=True under [rbac] section in tempest.conf
-iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG rbac rbac_flag True
+# Set enable_rbac=True under [rbac] section in tempest.conf
+iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG rbac enable_rbac True
 # Set rbac_test_role=$RBAC_ROLE under [rbac] section in tempest.conf
 iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG rbac rbac_test_role $RBAC_ROLE
+# Set strict_policy_check=False under [rbac] section in tempest.conf
+iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG rbac strict_policy_check False
 # Set additional, necessary CONF values
 iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG auth use_dynamic_credentials True
 iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG auth tempest_roles Member
diff --git a/doc/source/installation.rst b/doc/source/installation.rst
index 00cc57b..96f1c3f 100644
--- a/doc/source/installation.rst
+++ b/doc/source/installation.rst
@@ -48,9 +48,14 @@
 #. [rbac] section updates ::
 
        # The role that you want the RBAC tests to use for RBAC testing
-       # This needs to be edited to run the test as a different role. 
+       # This needs to be edited to run the test as a different role.
        rbac_test_role = _member_
 
        # Enables RBAC Tempest tests if set to True. Otherwise, they are
        # skipped.
-       rbac_flag = True
+       enable_rbac = True
+
+       # If set to true, tests throw a RbacParsingException for policies
+       # not found in the policy.json. Otherwise, they throw a
+       # skipException.
+       strict_policy_check = False
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/config.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/config.py
index 1edf877..dfb6cef 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/config.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/config.py
@@ -23,7 +23,12 @@
                default='admin',
                help="The current RBAC role against which to run"
                     " Patrole tests."),
-    cfg.BoolOpt('rbac_flag',
+    cfg.BoolOpt('enable_rbac',
                 default=True,
-                help="Enables RBAC tests.")
+                help="Enables RBAC tests."),
+    cfg.BoolOpt('strict_policy_check',
+                default=False,
+                help="If true, throws RbacParsingException for"
+                     " policies which don't exist. If false, "
+                     "throws skipException.")
 ]
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_auth.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_auth.py
index 687c0a8..7281969 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_auth.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_auth.py
@@ -17,10 +17,13 @@
 
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 
+from tempest import config
+
 from patrole_tempest_plugin import rbac_exceptions
 from patrole_tempest_plugin import rbac_policy_parser
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+CONF = config.CONF
 
 
 class RbacAuthority(object):
@@ -39,5 +42,8 @@
                           rule_name, role)
             return is_allowed
         except rbac_exceptions.RbacParsingException as e:
-            raise testtools.TestCase.skipException(str(e))
+            if CONF.rbac.strict_policy_check:
+                raise e
+            else:
+                raise testtools.TestCase.skipException(str(e))
         return False
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_policy_parser.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_policy_parser.py
index 62113ac..9d10a36 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_policy_parser.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/rbac_policy_parser.py
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@
             access=self._get_access_token(role),
             apply_rule=rule_name,
             is_admin=is_admin_context)
-
         return is_allowed
 
     def _is_admin_context(self, role):
@@ -168,16 +167,11 @@
         return result
 
     def _try_rule(self, apply_rule, target, access_data, o):
-        try:
-            rule = self.rules[apply_rule]
-            return rule(target, access_data, o)
-        except KeyError as e:
+        if apply_rule not in self.rules:
             message = "Policy action: {0} not found in policy file: {1}."\
                       .format(apply_rule, self.path)
             LOG.debug(message)
             raise rbac_exceptions.RbacParsingException(message)
-        except Exception as e:
-            message = "Unknown exception: {0} for policy action: {1} in "\
-                      "policy file: {2}.".format(e, apply_rule, self.path)
-            LOG.debug(message)
-            raise rbac_exceptions.RbacParsingException(message)
+        else:
+            rule = self.rules[apply_rule]
+            return rule(target, access_data, o)
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/compute/rbac_base.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/compute/rbac_base.py
index 625b5cf..e5d7d9c 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/compute/rbac_base.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/compute/rbac_base.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseV2ComputeRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 '%s skipped as RBAC flag not enabled' % cls.__name__)
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseV2ComputeAdminRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 '%s skipped as RBAC flag not enabled' % cls.__name__)
 
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v2/rbac_base.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v2/rbac_base.py
index ffee5c0..969631d 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v2/rbac_base.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v2/rbac_base.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseIdentityV2AdminRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v3/rbac_base.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v3/rbac_base.py
index 47f6590..127ed3e 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v3/rbac_base.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/identity/v3/rbac_base.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseIdentityV3RbacAdminTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/image/rbac_base.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/image/rbac_base.py
index b4fed7d..25521f3 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/image/rbac_base.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/image/rbac_base.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseV1ImageRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseV2ImageRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/network/rbac_base.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/network/rbac_base.py
index de5ed88..cad5498 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/network/rbac_base.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/network/rbac_base.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseNetworkRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/orchestration/rbac_base.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/orchestration/rbac_base.py
index 2cc7978..734007f 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/orchestration/rbac_base.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/orchestration/rbac_base.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseOrchestrationRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/volume/rbac_base.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/volume/rbac_base.py
index 2a14b19..3c7cd68 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/volume/rbac_base.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/api/volume/rbac_base.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseVolumeRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
     @classmethod
     def skip_checks(cls):
         super(BaseVolumeAdminRbacTest, cls).skip_checks()
-        if not CONF.rbac.rbac_flag:
+        if not CONF.rbac.enable_rbac:
             raise cls.skipException(
                 "%s skipped as RBAC Flag not enabled" % cls.__name__)
 
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_policy_parser.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_policy_parser.py
index 8583eb5..d5f20f6 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_policy_parser.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_policy_parser.py
@@ -286,9 +286,8 @@
             **{'__getitem__.return_value.side_effect': Exception(
                mock.sentinel.error)})
 
-        expected_message = "Unknown exception: {0} for policy action: {1} in "\
-                           "policy file: {2}.".format(mock.sentinel.error,
-                                                      mock.sentinel.rule,
+        expected_message = "Policy action: {0} not found in "\
+                           "policy file: {1}.".format(mock.sentinel.rule,
                                                       self.custom_policy_file)
 
         e = self.assertRaises(rbac_exceptions.RbacParsingException,
diff --git a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_rule_validation.py b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_rule_validation.py
index 705c7e7..e96194b 100644
--- a/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_rule_validation.py
+++ b/patrole_tempest_plugin/tests/unit/test_rbac_rule_validation.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 import mock
-import testtools
 
 from patrole_tempest_plugin import rbac_auth
 from patrole_tempest_plugin import rbac_exceptions
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@
         self.assertIsNone(wrapper(self.mock_args))
 
     @mock.patch.object(rbac_auth, 'rbac_policy_parser', autospec=True)
-    def test_invalid_policy_rule_throws_skip_exception(
+    def test_invalid_policy_rule_throws_parsing_exception(
             self, mock_rbac_policy_parser):
         mock_rbac_policy_parser.RbacPolicyParser.return_value.allowed.\
             side_effect = rbac_exceptions.RbacParsingException
@@ -180,7 +179,7 @@
                                    mock.sentinel.policy_rule)
         wrapper = decorator(mock.Mock())
 
-        e = self.assertRaises(testtools.TestCase.skipException, wrapper,
+        e = self.assertRaises(rbac_exceptions.RbacParsingException, wrapper,
                               self.mock_args)
         self.assertEqual('Attempted to test an invalid policy file or action',
                          str(e))