diff --git a/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumber.php b/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumber.php
index 30a67d2..732f280 100644
--- a/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumber.php
+++ b/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumber.php
@@ -8,8 +8,11 @@
 class VatNumber extends Constraint
 {
     public const INVALID_ERROR_CODE = '59421d43-d474-489c-b18c-7701329d51a0';
+    public const VIES_EXCEPTION_ERROR_CODE = 'a1be6ee0-f27e-4d51-a132-f0a753c0b01e';
 
     public string $message = '"{{ string }}" does not look like a valid VAT number.';
+    public string $exceptionMessage = 'An error occurred while checking VAT number, please try again later';
 
     public bool $checkExistence = true;
+    public bool $violateOnException = false;
 }
diff --git a/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumberValidator.php b/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumberValidator.php
index 920c83a..216b4bd 100644
--- a/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumberValidator.php
+++ b/src/Validator/Constraints/VatNumberValidator.php
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ public function validate(mixed $value, Constraint $constraint) : void
             try {
                 $valid = $this->validator->validateVatNumber($value);
             } catch (ViesException $e) {
+                if ($constraint->violateOnException) {
+                    $this->context->buildViolation($constraint->exceptionMessage)
+                        ->setCode(VatNumber::VIES_EXCEPTION_ERROR_CODE)
+                        ->addViolation();
+
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 // ignore VIES VAT exceptions (when the service is down)
                 // this could mean that an unexisting VAT number passes validation,
                 // but it's (probably) better than a hard-error
diff --git a/tests/Validator/Constraints/VatNumberExceptionValidatorTest.php b/tests/Validator/Constraints/VatNumberExceptionValidatorTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf530f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Validator/Constraints/VatNumberExceptionValidatorTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Ibericode\Vat\Bundle\Tests\Validator\Constraints;
+
+use Ibericode\Vat\Bundle\Validator\Constraints\VatNumber;
+use Ibericode\Vat\Bundle\Validator\Constraints\VatNumberValidator;
+use Ibericode\Vat\Validator;
+use Ibericode\Vat\Vies\ViesException;
+use Symfony\Component\Validator\ConstraintValidatorInterface;
+use Symfony\Component\Validator\Test\ConstraintValidatorTestCase;
+
+class VatNumberExceptionValidatorTest extends ConstraintValidatorTestCase
+{
+    protected function createValidator(): ConstraintValidatorInterface
+    {
+        $mockValidator = $this->createMock(Validator::class);
+        $mockValidator
+            ->method('validateVatNumber')
+            ->willThrowException(new ViesException());
+
+        return new VatNumberValidator($mockValidator);
+    }
+
+    public function testViesExceptionValid()
+    {
+        $constraint = new VatNumber([
+            'violateOnException' => false,
+        ]);
+        $this->validator->validate('IE6388047V', $constraint);
+        $this->assertNoViolation();
+    }
+
+    public function testViesExceptionError()
+    {
+        $constraint = new VatNumber([
+            'violateOnException' => true,
+        ]);
+        $this->validator->validate('IE6388047V', $constraint);
+        $this->buildViolation('An error occurred while checking VAT number, please try again later')
+            ->setCode('a1be6ee0-f27e-4d51-a132-f0a753c0b01e')
+            ->assertRaised();
+    }
+}