diff --git a/pdfminer/psparser.py b/pdfminer/psparser.py
index dbc7861..b1fc6ac 100644
--- a/pdfminer/psparser.py
+++ b/pdfminer/psparser.py
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ import re
 import logging
 
 import six # Python 2+3 compatibility
+try:
+    from django.conf import settings
+except ImportError:
+    # in case it's not a django project
+    settings = None
+
 
 def bytesindex(s,i,j=None):
     """implements s[i], s[i:], s[i:j] for Python2 and Python3"""
@@ -15,7 +21,7 @@ def bytesindex(s,i,j=None):
 
 from .utils import choplist
 
-STRICT = True
+STRICT = getattr(settings, 'PDF_MINER_IS_STRICT', True)
 
 ##  PS Exceptions
 ##
@@ -265,7 +271,7 @@ class PSBaseParser(object):
                 linebuf += bytesindex(self.buf,self.charpos,-1)
                 self.charpos = len(self.buf)
         logging.debug('nextline: %r, %r', linepos, linebuf)
-        
+
         return (linepos, linebuf)
 
     def revreadlines(self):