diff --git a/acme/challenge.go b/acme/challenge.go
index dd97c36ac..c30d00df4 100644
--- a/acme/challenge.go
+++ b/acme/challenge.go
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ var (
 	//
 	// This variable can be used for testing purposes.
 	InsecurePortTLSALPN01 int
+
+	// StrictFQDN allows to enforce a fully qualified domain name in the DNS
+	// resolution. By default it allows domain resolution using a search list
+	// defined in the resolv.conf or similar configuration.
+	StrictFQDN bool
 )
 
 // Challenge represents an ACME response Challenge type.
@@ -163,8 +168,10 @@ func http01Validate(ctx context.Context, ch *Challenge, db DB, jwk *jose.JSONWeb
 
 // rootedName adds a trailing "." to a given domain name.
 func rootedName(name string) string {
-	if name == "" || name[len(name)-1] != '.' {
-		return name + "."
+	if StrictFQDN {
+		if name == "" || name[len(name)-1] != '.' {
+			return name + "."
+		}
 	}
 	return name
 }
diff --git a/acme/challenge_test.go b/acme/challenge_test.go
index 9f5c16aa1..40f86cb6f 100644
--- a/acme/challenge_test.go
+++ b/acme/challenge_test.go
@@ -2767,19 +2767,34 @@ func Test_serverName(t *testing.T) {
 
 func Test_http01ChallengeHost(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
-		name  string
-		value string
-		want  string
+		name       string
+		strictFQDN bool
+		value      string
+		want       string
 	}{
 		{
-			name:  "dns",
-			value: "www.example.com",
-			want:  "www.example.com.",
+			name:       "dns",
+			strictFQDN: false,
+			value:      "www.example.com",
+			want:       "www.example.com",
 		},
 		{
-			name:  "rooted dns",
-			value: "www.example.com.",
-			want:  "www.example.com.",
+			name:       "dns strict",
+			strictFQDN: true,
+			value:      "www.example.com",
+			want:       "www.example.com.",
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "rooted dns",
+			strictFQDN: false,
+			value:      "www.example.com.",
+			want:       "www.example.com.",
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "rooted dns strict",
+			strictFQDN: true,
+			value:      "www.example.com.",
+			want:       "www.example.com.",
 		},
 		{
 			name:  "ipv4",
@@ -2794,6 +2809,11 @@ func Test_http01ChallengeHost(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			tmp := StrictFQDN
+			t.Cleanup(func() {
+				StrictFQDN = tmp
+			})
+			StrictFQDN = tt.strictFQDN
 			if got := http01ChallengeHost(tt.value); got != tt.want {
 				t.Errorf("http01ChallengeHost() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
 			}
@@ -4500,17 +4520,25 @@ func Test_tlsAlpn01ChallengeHost(t *testing.T) {
 		name string
 	}
 	tests := []struct {
-		name string
-		args args
-		want string
+		name       string
+		strictFQDN bool
+		args       args
+		want       string
 	}{
-		{"dns", args{"smallstep.com"}, "smallstep.com."},
-		{"rooted dns", args{"smallstep.com."}, "smallstep.com."},
-		{"ipv4", args{"1.2.3.4"}, "1.2.3.4"},
-		{"ipv6", args{"2607:f8b0:4023:1009::71"}, "2607:f8b0:4023:1009::71"},
+		{"dns", false, args{"smallstep.com"}, "smallstep.com"},
+		{"dns strict", true, args{"smallstep.com"}, "smallstep.com."},
+		{"rooted dns", false, args{"smallstep.com."}, "smallstep.com."},
+		{"rooted dns strict", true, args{"smallstep.com."}, "smallstep.com."},
+		{"ipv4", true, args{"1.2.3.4"}, "1.2.3.4"},
+		{"ipv6", true, args{"2607:f8b0:4023:1009::71"}, "2607:f8b0:4023:1009::71"},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			tmp := StrictFQDN
+			t.Cleanup(func() {
+				StrictFQDN = tmp
+			})
+			StrictFQDN = tt.strictFQDN
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, tlsAlpn01ChallengeHost(tt.args.name))
 		})
 	}
@@ -4521,15 +4549,23 @@ func Test_dns01ChallengeHost(t *testing.T) {
 		domain string
 	}
 	tests := []struct {
-		name string
-		args args
-		want string
+		name       string
+		strictFQDN bool
+		args       args
+		want       string
 	}{
-		{"dns", args{"smallstep.com"}, "_acme-challenge.smallstep.com."},
-		{"rooted dns", args{"smallstep.com."}, "_acme-challenge.smallstep.com."},
+		{"dns", false, args{"smallstep.com"}, "_acme-challenge.smallstep.com"},
+		{"dns strict", true, args{"smallstep.com"}, "_acme-challenge.smallstep.com."},
+		{"rooted dns", false, args{"smallstep.com."}, "_acme-challenge.smallstep.com."},
+		{"rooted dns strict", true, args{"smallstep.com."}, "_acme-challenge.smallstep.com."},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			tmp := StrictFQDN
+			t.Cleanup(func() {
+				StrictFQDN = tmp
+			})
+			StrictFQDN = tt.strictFQDN
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, dns01ChallengeHost(tt.args.domain))
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/commands/app.go b/commands/app.go
index 1ccaaf3c8..c793f11cd 100644
--- a/commands/app.go
+++ b/commands/app.go
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ Requires **--insecure** flag.`,
 			Usage: `the <port> used on tls-alpn-01 challenges. It can be changed for testing purposes.
 Requires **--insecure** flag.`,
 		},
+		cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name:  "acme-strict-fqdn",
+			Usage: `enable strict DNS resolution using a fully qualified domain name.`,
+		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "pidfile",
 			Usage: "the path to the <file> to write the process ID.",
@@ -126,6 +130,9 @@ func appAction(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Set the strict DNS resolution on ACME challenges. Defaults to false.
+	acme.StrictFQDN = ctx.Bool("acme-strict-fqdn")
+
 	// Allow custom contexts.
 	if caCtx := ctx.String("context"); caCtx != "" {
 		if _, ok := step.Contexts().Get(caCtx); ok {