diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py b/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py
index ecad16fe6..5788d331c 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py
@@ -1003,9 +1003,13 @@ def vertex_httpx_mock_post_invalid_schema_response(*args, **kwargs):
     "invalid_response",
     [True, False],
 )
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "enforce_validation",
+    [True, False],
+)
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_gemini_pro_json_schema_args_sent_httpx(
-    model, supports_response_schema, invalid_response
+    model, supports_response_schema, invalid_response, enforce_validation
 ):
     load_vertex_ai_credentials()
     os.environ["LITELLM_LOCAL_MODEL_COST_MAP"] = "True"
@@ -1043,10 +1047,11 @@ async def test_gemini_pro_json_schema_args_sent_httpx(
                 response_format={
                     "type": "json_object",
                     "response_schema": response_schema,
+                    "enforce_validation": enforce_validation,
                 },
                 client=client,
             )
-            if invalid_response is True:
+            if invalid_response is True and enforce_validation is True:
                 pytest.fail("Expected this to fail")
         except litellm.JSONSchemaValidationError as e:
             if invalid_response is False:
diff --git a/litellm/utils.py b/litellm/utils.py
index 877685416..2598aa46b 100644
--- a/litellm/utils.py
+++ b/litellm/utils.py
@@ -621,8 +621,14 @@ def client(original_function):
                                         ],
                                         dict,
                                     )
+                                    and "enforce_validation"
+                                    in optional_params["response_format"]
+                                    and optional_params["response_format"][
+                                        "enforce_validation"
+                                    ]
+                                    is True
                                 ):
-                                    # schema given, json response expected
+                                    # schema given, json response expected, and validation enforced
                                     litellm.litellm_core_utils.json_validation_rule.validate_schema(
                                         schema=optional_params["response_format"][
                                             "response_schema"