diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1c1a3eb..be3619d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # CHANGELOG
 
+## 3.0.x
+
+ * ActiveRecord persistence can ignore validation when trying to save invalid models
+
 ## 3.0.1
 
  * added support for Mongoid (Thanks, Michał Taberski)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 96a9f58..d8a2494 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ gem 'aasm'
 % sudo gem install pkg/aasm-x.y.z.gem
 ```
 
-## Simple Example ##
+## Examples ##
+
+### Simple Example ###
 
 Here's a quick example highlighting some of the features.
 
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ class Conversation
 end
 ```
 
-## A Slightly More Complex Example ##
+### A Slightly More Complex Example ###
 
 This example uses a few of the more complex features available.
 
@@ -117,7 +119,7 @@ This example uses a few of the more complex features available.
   end
 ```
 
-## Callbacks around events
+### Callbacks around events ###
 ```ruby
   class Relationship
     include AASM
@@ -135,6 +137,27 @@ This example uses a few of the more complex features available.
   end
 ```
 
+### Persistence example ###
+```ruby
+  class InvalidPersistor < ActiveRecord::Base
+    include AASM
+    aasm :column => :status, :skip_validation_on_save => true do
+      state :sleeping, :initial => true
+      state :running
+      event :run do
+        transitions :to => :running, :from => :sleeping
+      end
+      event :sleep do
+        transitions :to => :sleeping, :from => :running
+      end
+    end
+    validates_presence_of :name
+  end
+```
+This model can change AASM states which are stored into the database, even if the model itself is invalid!
+
+
+
 ## Changelog ##
 
 Look at the [CHANGELOG](https://github.com/rubyist/aasm/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md) for details.
diff --git a/lib/aasm/base.rb b/lib/aasm/base.rb
index 3decc13..493dd76 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/base.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/base.rb
@@ -4,11 +4,18 @@ module AASM
       @clazz = clazz
       sm = AASM::StateMachine[@clazz]
       sm.config.column = options[:column].to_sym if options[:column]
+
       if options.key?(:whiny_transitions)
         sm.config.whiny_transitions = options[:whiny_transitions]
       else
         sm.config.whiny_transitions = true # this is the default, so let's cry
       end
+
+      if options.key?(:skip_validation_on_save)
+        sm.config.skip_validation_on_save = options[:skip_validation_on_save]
+      else
+        sm.config.skip_validation_on_save = false # this is the default, so don't store any new state if the model is invalid
+      end
     end
 
     def state(name, options={})
diff --git a/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb b/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb
index 3aaff9b..031f072 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb
@@ -196,7 +196,12 @@ module AASM
           old_value = read_attribute(self.class.aasm_column)
           write_attribute(self.class.aasm_column, state.to_s)
 
-          unless self.save
+          success = if AASM::StateMachine[self.class].config.skip_validation_on_save && !self.valid?
+            self.class.update_all({ self.class.aasm_column => state.to_s }, self.class.primary_key => self.id) == 1
+          else
+            self.save
+          end
+          unless success
             write_attribute(self.class.aasm_column, old_value)
             return false
           end
diff --git a/spec/models/invalid_persistor.rb b/spec/models/invalid_persistor.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2888ac1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/models/invalid_persistor.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+require 'active_record'
+
+class InvalidPersistor < ActiveRecord::Base
+  include AASM
+  aasm :column => :status, :skip_validation_on_save => true do
+    state :sleeping, :initial => true
+    state :running
+    event :run do
+      transitions :to => :running, :from => :sleeping
+    end
+    event :sleep do
+      transitions :to => :sleeping, :from => :running
+    end
+  end
+  validates_presence_of :name
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/validator.rb b/spec/models/validator.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02ad7ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/models/validator.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+require 'active_record'
+
+class Validator < ActiveRecord::Base
+  include AASM
+  aasm :column => :status do
+    state :sleeping, :initial => true
+    state :running
+    event :run do
+      transitions :to => :running, :from => :sleeping
+    end
+    event :sleep do
+      transitions :to => :sleeping, :from => :running
+    end
+  end
+  validates_presence_of :name
+end
diff --git a/spec/schema.rb b/spec/schema.rb
index 30e781d..f211832 100644
--- a/spec/schema.rb
+++ b/spec/schema.rb
@@ -9,4 +9,9 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 0) do
     t.string "status"
   end
 
+  create_table "invalid_persistors", :force => true do |t|
+    t.string "name"
+    t.string "status"
+  end
+
 end
diff --git a/spec/unit/active_record_persistence_spec.rb b/spec/unit/active_record_persistence_spec.rb
index 437fcf2..17259c6 100644
--- a/spec/unit/active_record_persistence_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/active_record_persistence_spec.rb
@@ -68,21 +68,6 @@ class Thief < ActiveRecord::Base
   attr_accessor :skilled, :aasm_state
 end
 
-class Validator < ActiveRecord::Base
-  include AASM
-  aasm :column => :status do
-    state :sleeping, :initial => true
-    state :running
-    event :run do
-      transitions :to => :running, :from => :sleeping
-    end
-    event :sleep do
-      transitions :to => :sleeping, :from => :running
-    end
-  end
-  validates_presence_of :name
-end
-
 shared_examples_for "aasm model" do
   it "should include AASM::Persistence::ActiveRecordPersistence" do
     @klass.included_modules.should be_include(AASM::Persistence::ActiveRecordPersistence)
@@ -264,19 +249,19 @@ end
 
 describe 'transitions with persistence' do
 
-  it 'should succeed and store the new state' do
+  it 'should not store states for invalid models' do
     validator = Validator.create(:name => 'name')
     validator.should be_valid
     validator.should be_sleeping
 
-    # validator.name = nil
-    # validator.should_not be_valid
-    # validator.run!.should be_false
-    # validator.should be_running
-    #
-    # validator.reload
-    # validator.should_not be_running
-    # validator.should be_sleeping
+    validator.name = nil
+    validator.should_not be_valid
+    validator.run!.should be_false
+    validator.should be_sleeping
+
+    validator.reload
+    validator.should_not be_running
+    validator.should be_sleeping
 
     validator.name = 'another name'
     validator.should be_valid
@@ -288,4 +273,25 @@ describe 'transitions with persistence' do
     validator.should_not be_sleeping
   end
 
+  it 'should store states for invalid models if configured' do
+    persistor = InvalidPersistor.create(:name => 'name')
+    persistor.should be_valid
+    persistor.should be_sleeping
+
+    persistor.name = nil
+    persistor.should_not be_valid
+    persistor.run!.should be_true
+    persistor.should be_running
+
+    persistor = InvalidPersistor.find(persistor.id)
+    persistor.valid?
+    persistor.should be_valid
+    persistor.should be_running
+    persistor.should_not be_sleeping
+
+    persistor.reload
+    persistor.should be_running
+    persistor.should_not be_sleeping
+  end
+
 end