diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 80312fa..815036b 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -156,6 +156,17 @@ Supported security types:
 Customizations
 ##############
 
+Spec validation
+***************
+
+By default, spec dict is validated on spec creation time. Disabling the validation can improve the performance.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from openapi_core import create_spec
+
+   spec = create_spec(spec_dict, validate_spec=False)
+
 Deserializers
 *************
 
diff --git a/openapi_core/schema/shortcuts.py b/openapi_core/schema/shortcuts.py
index 5f5ad01..9fb625d 100644
--- a/openapi_core/schema/shortcuts.py
+++ b/openapi_core/schema/shortcuts.py
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 """OpenAPI core schema shortcuts module"""
 from jsonschema.validators import RefResolver
-from openapi_spec_validator import default_handlers
+from openapi_spec_validator import (
+    default_handlers, openapi_v3_spec_validator,
+)
 
 from openapi_core.schema.specs.factories import SpecFactory
 
 
-def create_spec(spec_dict, spec_url='', handlers=default_handlers):
+def create_spec(
+    spec_dict, spec_url='', handlers=default_handlers,
+    validate_spec=True,
+):
+    if validate_spec:
+        openapi_v3_spec_validator.validate(spec_dict, spec_url=spec_url)
+
     spec_resolver = RefResolver(
         spec_url, spec_dict, handlers=handlers)
     spec_factory = SpecFactory(spec_resolver)
diff --git a/openapi_core/schema/specs/factories.py b/openapi_core/schema/specs/factories.py
index 384ef8e..1871c84 100644
--- a/openapi_core/schema/specs/factories.py
+++ b/openapi_core/schema/specs/factories.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """OpenAPI core specs factories module"""
 
-from openapi_spec_validator import openapi_v3_spec_validator
 from openapi_spec_validator.validators import Dereferencer
 
 from openapi_core.compat import lru_cache
@@ -19,14 +18,10 @@ from openapi_core.schema.specs.models import Spec
 
 class SpecFactory(object):
 
-    def __init__(self, spec_resolver, config=None):
+    def __init__(self, spec_resolver):
         self.spec_resolver = spec_resolver
-        self.config = config or {}
 
     def create(self, spec_dict, spec_url=''):
-        if self.config.get('validate_spec', True):
-            openapi_v3_spec_validator.validate(spec_dict, spec_url=spec_url)
-
         spec_dict_deref = self.dereferencer.dereference(spec_dict)
 
         info_spec = spec_dict_deref.get('info', {})