diff --git a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.c b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.c
index fce71ae0cd..ec9b8c2a27 100644
--- a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.c
+++ b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "misc.h"
 
 bool g_debug = false;
+bool g_force = false;
 
 /**
  * Misc
diff --git a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.h b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.h
index 4df9bbe957..f5bba9164f 100644
--- a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.h
+++ b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/misc.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #define ROUND_UP(val, round) ((((val) + (round) - 1) / (round)) * (round))
 
 extern bool g_debug;
+extern bool g_force;
 
 typedef struct crypto_key_t *key_array_t;
 int g_nr_keys;
diff --git a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sb.c b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sb.c
index 9b97509491..78f98b5985 100644
--- a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sb.c
+++ b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sb.c
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ static struct sb_section_t *read_section(bool data_sec, uint32_t id, byte *buf,
         printf(OFF, "%s", indent);
         uint8_t checksum = instruction_checksum(hdr);
         if(checksum != hdr->checksum)
-            fatal(SB_CHECKSUM_ERROR, "Bad instruction checksum");
+            fatal(SB_CHECKSUM_ERROR, "Bad instruction checksum\n");
         if(hdr->flags != 0)
         {
             printf(GREY, "[");
@@ -788,7 +788,8 @@ struct sb_file_t *sb_read_memory(void *_buf, size_t filesize, bool raw_mode, voi
         printf(BLUE, "Encryption keys\n");
         for(int i = 0; i < g_nr_keys; i++)
         {
-            printf(RED, "  Key %d: ", i);
+            printf(RED, "  Key %d\n", i),
+            printf(GREEN, "    Key: ");
             printf(YELLOW, "");
             print_key(&g_key_array[i], true);
             printf(GREEN, "    CBC-MAC: ");
@@ -859,7 +860,12 @@ struct sb_file_t *sb_read_memory(void *_buf, size_t filesize, bool raw_mode, voi
         free(cbcmacs);
 
         if(!valid_key)
-            fatal(SB_NO_VALID_KEY, "No valid key found\n");
+        {
+            if(g_force)
+                printf(GREY, "  No valid key found\n");
+            else
+                fatal(SB_NO_VALID_KEY, "No valid key found\n");
+        }
 
         if(getenv("SB_REAL_KEY") != 0)
         {
@@ -868,6 +874,12 @@ struct sb_file_t *sb_read_memory(void *_buf, size_t filesize, bool raw_mode, voi
             if(!parse_key(&env, &k) || *env)
                 fatal(SB_ERROR, "Invalid SB_REAL_KEY\n");
             memcpy(real_key, k.u.key, 16);
+            /* assume the key is valid */
+            if(valid_key)
+                printf(GREY, "  Overriding real key\n");
+            else
+                printf(GREY, "  Assuming real key is ok\n");
+            valid_key = true;
         }
 
         printf(RED, "  Summary:\n");
@@ -916,6 +928,13 @@ struct sb_file_t *sb_read_memory(void *_buf, size_t filesize, bool raw_mode, voi
             if(encrypted)
                 printf(RED, " (Encrypted)");
             printf(OFF, "\n");
+
+            /* skip it if we cannot decrypt it */
+            if(encrypted && !valid_key)
+            {
+                printf(GREY, "  Skipping section content (no valid key)\n");
+                continue;
+            }
             
             /* save it */
             byte *sec = xmalloc(size);
@@ -939,7 +958,7 @@ struct sb_file_t *sb_read_memory(void *_buf, size_t filesize, bool raw_mode, voi
             free(sec);
         }
     }
-    else
+    else if(valid_key)
     {
         /* advanced raw mode */
         printf(BLUE, "Commands\n");
@@ -1041,6 +1060,10 @@ struct sb_file_t *sb_read_memory(void *_buf, size_t filesize, bool raw_mode, voi
             }
         }
     }
+    else
+    {
+        printf(GREY, "Cannot read content in raw mode without a valid key\n");
+    }
     
     /* final signature */
     printf(BLUE, "Final signature:\n");
diff --git a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sbtoelf.c b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sbtoelf.c
index c1d1e9aa34..0170ea1836 100644
--- a/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sbtoelf.c
+++ b/utils/imxtools/sbtools/sbtoelf.c
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ static void usage(void)
     printf("  -a/--add-key <key>\tAdd single key (hex or usbotp)\n");
     printf("  -n/--no-color\tDisable output colors\n");
     printf("  -l/--loopback <file>\tProduce sb file out of extracted description*\n");
+    printf("  -f/--force\tForce reading even without a key*\n");
     printf("Options marked with a * are for debug purpose only\n");
     exit(1);
 }
@@ -204,10 +205,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
             {"add-key", required_argument, 0, 'a'},
             {"no-color", no_argument, 0, 'n'},
             {"loopback", required_argument, 0, 'l'},
+            {"force", no_argument, 0, 'f' },
             {0, 0, 0, 0}
         };
 
-        int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "?do:k:zra:nl:", long_options, NULL);
+        int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "?do:k:zra:nl:f", long_options, NULL);
         if(c == -1)
             break;
         switch(c)
@@ -231,6 +233,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
             case 'o':
                 g_out_prefix = optarg;
                 break;
+            case 'f':
+                g_force = true;
+                break;
             case 'k':
             {
                 if(!add_keys_from_file(optarg))
@@ -250,9 +255,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                 struct crypto_key_t key;
                 char *s = optarg;
                 if(!parse_key(&s, &key))
-                    bug("Invalid key specified as argument");
+                    bug("Invalid key specified as argument\n");
                 if(*s != 0)
-                    bug("Trailing characters after key specified as argument");
+                    bug("Trailing characters after key specified as argument\n");
                 add_keys(&key, 1);
                 break;
             }