diff --git a/src/decoder/src/GcmParser.cpp b/src/decoder/src/GcmParser.cpp
index 2920d586..6440e0d3 100644
--- a/src/decoder/src/GcmParser.cpp
+++ b/src/decoder/src/GcmParser.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,10 @@ int8_t GCMParser::parse(uint8_t *d, DataParserContext &ctx, bool hastag) {
         }
         br_gcm_flip(&gcmCtx);
         br_gcm_run(&gcmCtx, 0, (void*) (ptr), len - authkeylen - 5); // 5 == security tag and frame counter
-        if(authkeylen > 0 && br_gcm_check_tag_trunc(&gcmCtx, authentication_tag, authkeylen) != 1) {
+        // Only enforce the tag when an authentication key is configured, matching the
+        // ESP32/native paths. With a blank AK we decrypt without verifying integrity,
+        // which lets meters that don't use standard SC+AK authentication be read.
+        if(authenticate && br_gcm_check_tag_trunc(&gcmCtx, authentication_tag, authkeylen) != 1) {
             return GCM_AUTH_FAILED;
         }
     #elif defined(ESP32)
diff --git a/test/test_decoder/test_encrypted.cpp b/test/test_decoder/test_encrypted.cpp
index 26b2f639..401816bf 100644
--- a/test/test_decoder/test_encrypted.cpp
+++ b/test/test_decoder/test_encrypted.cpp
@@ -179,3 +179,40 @@ void test_encrypted_framing_no_key(void) {
     TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_MESSAGE(0, missing_title, "frame reached GCM but extracted no system title");
     TEST_ASSERT_GREATER_THAN_MESSAGE(0, reached, "no encrypted frame reached the GCM layer");
 }
+
+// Decoding an authenticated frame (one issued with an AK) using only the encryption
+// key — AK omitted — must still decode: a blank authentication key skips GCM tag
+// verification rather than failing. This locks the cross-platform contract that the
+// ESP8266 BearSSL path now matches (the ESP32/native mbedTLS paths already behaved
+// this way). Exercises the native mbedTLS path; the ESP8266 br_gcm path is identical
+// in intent but only compiles on-device.
+void test_encrypted_decode_without_authkey(void) {
+#if !defined(HAVE_MBEDTLS)
+    TEST_IGNORE_MESSAGE("native mbedTLS not available (install libmbedtls-dev) — skipping");
+#else
+    int tested = 0, failures = 0;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < COUNT(ENC_KEYED); i++) {
+        const KeyedFixture& k = ENC_KEYED[i];
+        if (k.ak_secret == nullptr) continue;          // only authenticated fixtures are meaningful here
+        uint8_t ek[16];
+        if (!load_key(k.ek_secret, ek)) continue;      // need the encryption key
+
+        static uint8_t buf[4096];
+        int len = harness_load_fixture(k.path, buf, sizeof(buf));
+        if (len <= 0) { printf("  load FAIL %s\n", k.path); failures++; continue; }
+        MeterConfig cfg; memset(&cfg, 0, sizeof(cfg));
+        // EK only, AK deliberately omitted -> auth must be skipped, frame still decodes
+        AmsData* d = harness_decode(buf, (uint16_t)len, &cfg, ek, NULL);
+        tested++;
+        if (!d || d->getListType() < 1) { printf("  DECODE FAIL (no-AK) %s\n", k.path); failures++; }
+        if (d) delete d;
+    }
+    if (tested == 0) {
+        TEST_IGNORE_MESSAGE("no authenticated fixtures with keys available");
+    } else {
+        char msg[96];
+        snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%d/%d authenticated fixtures failed to decode with AK omitted", failures, tested);
+        TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_MESSAGE(0, failures, msg);
+    }
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/test/test_decoder/test_main.cpp b/test/test_decoder/test_main.cpp
index 9691ce1c..953d1f12 100644
--- a/test/test_decoder/test_main.cpp
+++ b/test/test_decoder/test_main.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ void test_encrypted_landisgyr_501(void);
 void test_encrypted_kaifa_905(void);
 void test_encrypted_kamstrup_73(void);
 void test_encrypted_framing_no_key(void);
+void test_encrypted_decode_without_authkey(void);
 // defined in test_plaintext_with_key.cpp
 void test_plaintext_dsmr_with_key_does_not_overflow(void);
 
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
     RUN_TEST(test_encrypted_kaifa_905);
     RUN_TEST(test_encrypted_kamstrup_73);
     RUN_TEST(test_encrypted_framing_no_key);
+    RUN_TEST(test_encrypted_decode_without_authkey);
     RUN_TEST(test_plaintext_dsmr_with_key_does_not_overflow);
     return UNITY_END();
 }