diff --git a/doc/index.rst b/doc/index.rst
index 14dbb5f..bad4d43 100644
--- a/doc/index.rst
+++ b/doc/index.rst
@@ -100,9 +100,9 @@ list of ``plugins`` passed to a new ``Client`` instance::
         )
 
 ``WssePlugin`` requires that the outgoing messages already have a
-``wsse:Security`` element in the ``soap:Header`` with a ``wsu:Timestamp``
-token. Suds can do this via its ``Security`` and ``Timestamp`` objects, as
-shown in the above example.
+``wsse:Security`` element in the ``soap:Header`` with an optional
+``wsu:Timestamp`` token. Suds can do this via its ``Security`` and
+``Timestamp`` objects, as shown in the above example.
 
 In the example, ``our_keyfile_path``, ``our_certfile_path``, and
 ``their_certfile_path`` should all be absolute filesystem paths to X509
@@ -112,8 +112,9 @@ used to encrypt outgoing messages and verify the signature on incoming
 messages.
 
 Note that ``WssePlugin`` is currently hardcoded to sign the ``wsu:Timestamp``
-and ``soap:Body`` elements, and to encrypt only the first child of the
-``soap:Body`` element. Pull requests to add more flexibility are welcome.
+(if it is present) and ``soap:Body`` elements, and to optionally encrypt only
+the first child of the ``soap:Body`` element.
+Pull requests to add more flexibility are welcome.
 
 
 Standalone functions
diff --git a/wsse/signing.py b/wsse/signing.py
index 22beac7..321aa54 100644
--- a/wsse/signing.py
+++ b/wsse/signing.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def sign(envelope, keyfile, certfile):
     """Sign given SOAP envelope with WSSE sig using given key and cert.
 
     Sign the wsu:Timestamp node in the wsse:Security header and the soap:Body;
-    both must be present.
+    Timestamp is optional, Body must be present.
 
     Add a ds:Signature node in the wsse:Security header containing the
     signature.
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ def sign(envelope, keyfile, certfile):
     ctx = xmlsec.SignatureContext()
     ctx.key = key
     _sign_node(ctx, signature, doc.find(ns(SOAP_NS, 'Body')))
-    _sign_node(ctx, signature, security.find(ns(WSU_NS, 'Timestamp')))
+    if security.find(ns(WSU_NS, 'Timestamp')):
+        _sign_node(ctx, signature, security.find(ns(WSU_NS, 'Timestamp')))
     ctx.sign(signature)
 
     # Place the X509 data inside a WSSE SecurityTokenReference within
diff --git a/wsse/suds.py b/wsse/suds.py
index 3fe1d11..5a07984 100644
--- a/wsse/suds.py
+++ b/wsse/suds.py
@@ -2,17 +2,22 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 from suds.plugin import MessagePlugin
+from logging import getLogger
+
 
 from .encryption import encrypt, decrypt
 from .signing import sign, verify
 
+log = getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 class WssePlugin(MessagePlugin):
     """Suds message plugin that performs WS-Security signing and encryption.
 
-    Encrypts and signs outgoing messages (the soap:Body and the wsu:Timestamp
-    security token, which must be present); decrypts and verifies signature on
-    incoming messages.
+    Encrypts (optional) and signs outgoing messages (the soap:Body and the
+    wsu:Timestamp security token, which must be present); decrypts and verifies
+    signature on incoming messages.
+    Encryption is done if their_certfile is set.
 
     Uses X509 certificates for both encryption and signing. Requires our cert
     and its private key, and their cert (all as file paths).
@@ -39,19 +44,30 @@ class WssePlugin(MessagePlugin):
     only the first child element of the soap:Body will be encrypted).
 
     """
-    def __init__(self, keyfile, certfile, their_certfile):
+    def __init__(self, keyfile, certfile, their_certfile=None):
+        """
+        @param keyfile         path to the private key to sign the content
+        @param certfile        path to the certificate to sign the content
+        @param their_certfile  Optional, path to the recipient certificate to
+                               encrypt, if not set no encryption is done
+        """
         self.keyfile = keyfile
         self.certfile = certfile
         self.their_certfile = their_certfile
+        log.info("WSSE plugin initialized")
 
     def sending(self, context):
         """Sign and encrypt outgoing message envelope."""
         context.envelope = sign(
             context.envelope, self.keyfile, self.certfile)
-        context.envelope = encrypt(context.envelope, self.their_certfile)
+        if self.their_certfile:
+            log.debug("Encrypt the body")
+            context.envelope = encrypt(context.envelope, self.their_certfile)
 
     def received(self, context):
         """Decrypt and verify signature of incoming reply envelope."""
         if context.reply:
-            context.reply = decrypt(context.reply, self.keyfile)
+            if self.their_certfile:
+                log.debug("Decrypt the body")
+                context.reply = decrypt(context.reply, self.keyfile)
             verify(context.reply, self.their_certfile)