diff --git a/pkg/api/annotation.go b/pkg/api/annotation.go
index 19ef6119..c3cfc27d 100644
--- a/pkg/api/annotation.go
+++ b/pkg/api/annotation.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 
-	"github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/pkg/pdfcpu"
 	"github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/pkg/pdfcpu/model"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
@@ -42,10 +41,6 @@ func Annotations(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Configura
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -70,10 +65,6 @@ func AddAnnotations(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, ann m
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -87,15 +78,7 @@ func AddAnnotations(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, ann m
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: AddAnnotations: No annotations added")
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddAnnotationsAsIncrement adds annotations for selected pages in rws and writes out a PDF increment.
@@ -118,10 +101,6 @@ func AddAnnotationsAsIncrement(rws io.ReadWriteSeeker, selectedPages []string, a
 		return errors.New("Incremental writing not supported for PDF version < V1.4 (Hint: Use pdfcpu optimize then try again)")
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -135,19 +114,7 @@ func AddAnnotationsAsIncrement(rws io.ReadWriteSeeker, selectedPages []string, a
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: AddAnnotationsAsIncrement: No annotations added")
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if _, err = rws.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteIncrement(ctx, rws)
+	return WriteIncr(ctx, rws, conf)
 }
 
 // AddAnnotationsFile adds annotations for selected pages to a PDF context read from inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -216,10 +183,6 @@ func AddAnnotationsMap(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, m map[int][]model.Annotati
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := pdfcpu.AddAnnotationsMap(ctx, m, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -228,15 +191,7 @@ func AddAnnotationsMap(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, m map[int][]model.Annotati
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: AddAnnotationsMap: No annotations added")
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddAnnotationsMapAsIncrement adds annotations in m to corresponding pages of rws and writes out a PDF increment.
@@ -259,10 +214,6 @@ func AddAnnotationsMapAsIncrement(rws io.ReadWriteSeeker, m map[int][]model.Anno
 		return errors.New("Increment writing not supported for PDF version < V1.4 (Hint: Use pdfcpu optimize then try again)")
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := pdfcpu.AddAnnotationsMap(ctx, m, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -271,19 +222,7 @@ func AddAnnotationsMapAsIncrement(rws io.ReadWriteSeeker, m map[int][]model.Anno
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: AddAnnotationsMapAsIncrement: No annotations added")
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if _, err = rws.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteIncrement(ctx, rws)
+	return WriteIncr(ctx, rws, conf)
 }
 
 // AddAnnotationsMapFile adds annotations in m to corresponding pages of inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -354,10 +293,6 @@ func RemoveAnnotations(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages, idsAndTypes
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -371,15 +306,7 @@ func RemoveAnnotations(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages, idsAndTypes
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: RemoveAnnotations: No annotation removed")
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RemoveAnnotationsAsIncrement removes annotations for selected pages by ids and object number
@@ -403,10 +330,6 @@ func RemoveAnnotationsAsIncrement(rws io.ReadWriteSeeker, selectedPages, idsAndT
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: Incremental writing unsupported for PDF version < V1.4 (Hint: Use pdfcpu optimize then try again)")
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -420,19 +343,7 @@ func RemoveAnnotationsAsIncrement(rws io.ReadWriteSeeker, selectedPages, idsAndT
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: RemoveAnnotationsAsIncrement: No annotation removed")
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if _, err = rws.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteIncrement(ctx, rws)
+	return WriteIncr(ctx, rws, conf)
 }
 
 // RemoveAnnotationsFile removes annotations for selected pages by id and object number
diff --git a/pkg/api/api.go b/pkg/api/api.go
index 789fcad1..4ae614a6 100644
--- a/pkg/api/api.go
+++ b/pkg/api/api.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ func logDisclaimerPDF20() {
 * Please let us know which feature you would like to see supported, *
 * provide a sample PDF file and create an issue:                    *
 * https://github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/issues/new/choose                *
+* Thank you for using pdfcpu <3                                     *
 *********************************************************************`
 
 	if log.ValidateEnabled() {
@@ -99,11 +100,9 @@ func ReadContextFile(inFile string) (*model.Context, error) {
 
 // ValidateContext validates ctx.
 func ValidateContext(ctx *model.Context) error {
-
 	if ctx.Version() == model.V20 {
 		logDisclaimerPDF20()
 	}
-
 	return validate.XRefTable(ctx.XRefTable)
 }
 
@@ -149,11 +148,7 @@ func ReadAndValidate(rs io.ReadSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) (ctx *model.Co
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if ctx.Version() == model.V20 {
-		logDisclaimerPDF20()
-	}
-
-	if err = validate.XRefTable(ctx.XRefTable); err != nil {
+	if err := ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
@@ -174,21 +169,43 @@ func ReadValidateAndOptimize(rs io.ReadSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) (ctx *
 	return ctx, nil
 }
 
-func logOperationStats(ctx *model.Context, op string, durRead, durVal, durOpt, durWrite, durTotal float64) {
+func logWritingTo(s string) {
+	if log.CLIEnabled() {
+		log.CLI.Printf("writing %s...\n", s)
+	}
+}
+
+func Write(ctx *model.Context, w io.Writer, conf *model.Configuration) error {
 	if log.StatsEnabled() {
 		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
 	}
-	model.TimingStats(op, durRead, durVal, durOpt, durWrite, durTotal)
-	if ctx.Read.FileSize > 0 {
-		ctx.Read.LogStats(ctx.Optimized)
-		ctx.Write.LogStats()
+
+	if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+		if err := ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
+
+	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
 }
 
-func logWritingTo(s string) {
-	if log.CLIEnabled() {
-		log.CLI.Printf("writing %s...\n", s)
+func WriteIncr(ctx *model.Context, rws io.ReadWriteSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) error {
+
+	if log.StatsEnabled() {
+		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
 	}
+
+	if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+		if err := ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if _, err := rws.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return WriteIncrement(ctx, rws)
 }
 
 // EnsureDefaultConfigAt switches to the pdfcpu config dir located at path.
diff --git a/pkg/api/attach.go b/pkg/api/attach.go
index 7442b829..6f573650 100644
--- a/pkg/api/attach.go
+++ b/pkg/api/attach.go
@@ -107,11 +107,7 @@ func AddAttachments(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, files []string, coll bool, co
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: AddAttachments: No attachment added")
 	}
 
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
 }
 
 // AddAttachmentsFile embeds files into a PDF context read from inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -180,11 +176,7 @@ func RemoveAttachments(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, files []string, conf *mode
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: RemoveAttachments: No attachment removed")
 	}
 
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
 }
 
 // RemoveAttachmentsFile deletes embedded files from a PDF context read from inFile and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/booklet.go b/pkg/api/booklet.go
index 5af4a9fd..152da031 100644
--- a/pkg/api/booklet.go
+++ b/pkg/api/booklet.go
@@ -87,10 +87,6 @@ func Booklet(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, imgFiles, selectedPages []string, nu
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
 		pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -101,17 +97,7 @@ func Booklet(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, imgFiles, selectedPages []string, nu
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // BookletFile rearranges PDF pages or images into a booklet layout and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/bookmark.go b/pkg/api/bookmark.go
index e2fb7af7..56072bb3 100644
--- a/pkg/api/bookmark.go
+++ b/pkg/api/bookmark.go
@@ -70,10 +70,6 @@ func ExportBookmarksJSON(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, source string, conf *mod
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := pdfcpu.ExportBookmarksJSON(ctx, source, w)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -138,10 +134,6 @@ func ImportBookmarks(rs io.ReadSeeker, rd io.Reader, w io.Writer, replace bool,
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := pdfcpu.ImportBookmarks(ctx, rd, replace)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -221,11 +213,7 @@ func AddBookmarks(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, bms []pdfcpu.Bookmark, replace
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
 }
 
 // AddBookmarksFile adds outlines to the PDF context read from inFile and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/box.go b/pkg/api/box.go
index 5f044472..615f0087 100644
--- a/pkg/api/box.go
+++ b/pkg/api/box.go
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ func Boxes(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Configuration)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -85,10 +81,6 @@ func AddBoxes(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, pb *model.P
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -98,11 +90,7 @@ func AddBoxes(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, pb *model.P
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddBoxesFile adds page boundaries for selected pages of inFile and writes result to outFile.
@@ -166,10 +154,6 @@ func RemoveBoxes(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, pb *mode
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -179,11 +163,7 @@ func RemoveBoxes(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, pb *mode
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RemoveBoxesFile removes page boundaries as specified in pb for selected pages of inFile and writes result to outFile.
@@ -248,10 +228,6 @@ func Crop(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, b *model.Box, c
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -261,11 +237,7 @@ func Crop(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, b *model.Box, c
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // CropFile adds crop boxes for selected pages of inFile and writes result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/collect.go b/pkg/api/collect.go
index f0b67d72..7e174dd8 100644
--- a/pkg/api/collect.go
+++ b/pkg/api/collect.go
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@ func Collect(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, conf *model.
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageCollection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -55,11 +51,7 @@ func Collect(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, conf *model.
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctxDest, w)
+	return Write(ctxDest, w, conf)
 }
 
 // CollectFile creates a custom PDF page sequence for inFile and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/create.go b/pkg/api/create.go
index 47854509..21fd6dea 100644
--- a/pkg/api/create.go
+++ b/pkg/api/create.go
@@ -66,16 +66,14 @@ func Create(rs io.ReadSeeker, rd io.Reader, w io.Writer, conf *model.Configurati
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	if err := create.FromJSON(ctx, rd); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+		if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
diff --git a/pkg/api/cut.go b/pkg/api/cut.go
index 141506ba..a6d81f7b 100644
--- a/pkg/api/cut.go
+++ b/pkg/api/cut.go
@@ -32,21 +32,17 @@ import (
 )
 
 func prepareForCut(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Configuration) (*model.Context, types.IntSet, error) {
-	ctxSrc, err := ReadValidateAndOptimize(rs, conf)
+	ctx, err := ReadValidateAndOptimize(rs, conf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctxSrc.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
-	}
-
-	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctxSrc.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
+	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ctxSrc, pages, nil
+	return ctx, pages, nil
 }
 
 // Poster applies cut for selected pages of rs and generates corresponding poster tiles in outDir.
@@ -94,14 +90,15 @@ func Poster(rs io.ReadSeeker, outDir, fileName string, selectedPages []string, c
 		outFile := filepath.Join(outDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_page_%d.pdf", fileName, i))
 		logWritingTo(outFile)
 
-		if err := WriteContextFile(ctxDest, outFile); err != nil {
-			return err
+		if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+			if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 
-		if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
+		if err := WriteContextFile(ctxDest, outFile); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -156,6 +153,12 @@ func NDown(rs io.ReadSeeker, outDir, fileName string, selectedPages []string, n
 			return err
 		}
 
+		if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+			if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
 		outFile := filepath.Join(outDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_page_%d.pdf", fileName, i))
 		if log.CLIEnabled() {
 			log.CLI.Printf("writing %s\n", outFile)
@@ -163,10 +166,6 @@ func NDown(rs io.ReadSeeker, outDir, fileName string, selectedPages []string, n
 		if err := WriteContextFile(ctxDest, outFile); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-
-		if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -258,16 +257,18 @@ func Cut(rs io.ReadSeeker, outDir, fileName string, selectedPages []string, cut
 			return err
 		}
 
+		if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+			if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
 		outFile := filepath.Join(outDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_page_%d.pdf", fileName, i))
 		logWritingTo(outFile)
 
 		if err := WriteContextFile(ctxDest, outFile); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-
-		if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/api/extract.go b/pkg/api/extract.go
index fb2b3596..946a47b2 100644
--- a/pkg/api/extract.go
+++ b/pkg/api/extract.go
@@ -48,10 +48,6 @@ func ExtractImagesRaw(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Conf
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -88,10 +84,6 @@ func ExtractImages(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, digestImage func(mo
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -175,10 +167,6 @@ func ExtractFonts(rs io.ReadSeeker, outDir, fileName string, selectedPages []str
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -238,10 +226,6 @@ func ExtractPages(rs io.ReadSeeker, outDir, fileName string, selectedPages []str
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -305,10 +289,6 @@ func ExtractContent(rs io.ReadSeeker, outDir, fileName string, selectedPages []s
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/pkg/api/form.go b/pkg/api/form.go
index 458cb603..711bfb08 100644
--- a/pkg/api/form.go
+++ b/pkg/api/form.go
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ func FormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) ([]form.Field, erro
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	fields, _, err := form.FormFields(ctx)
 
 	return fields, err
@@ -82,10 +78,6 @@ func RemoveFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, c
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := form.RemoveFormFields(ctx, fieldIDsOrNames)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -94,11 +86,7 @@ func RemoveFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, c
 		return ErrNoFormFieldsAffected
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RemoveFormFieldsFile deletes form fields in inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -157,10 +145,6 @@ func LockFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, con
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := form.LockFormFields(ctx, fieldIDsOrNames)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -169,11 +153,7 @@ func LockFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, con
 		return ErrNoFormFieldsAffected
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // LockFormFieldsFile turns form fields of inFile into read-only and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -232,10 +212,6 @@ func UnlockFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, c
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := form.UnlockFormFields(ctx, fieldIDsOrNames)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -244,11 +220,7 @@ func UnlockFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, c
 		return ErrNoFormFieldsAffected
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // UnlockFormFieldsFile makes form fields of inFile writeable and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -307,10 +279,6 @@ func ResetFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, co
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := form.ResetFormFields(ctx, fieldIDsOrNames)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -319,11 +287,7 @@ func ResetFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, fieldIDsOrNames []string, co
 		return ErrNoFormFieldsAffected
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // ResetFormFieldsFile resets form fields of inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -382,10 +346,6 @@ func ExportForm(rs io.ReadSeeker, source string, conf *model.Configuration) (*fo
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	formGroup, ok, err := form.ExportForm(ctx.XRefTable, source)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -417,10 +377,6 @@ func ExportFormJSON(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, source string, conf *model.Co
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	ok, err := form.ExportFormJSON(ctx.XRefTable, source, w)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -523,7 +479,7 @@ func validateOptionValues(f form.Form) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func fillPostProc(ctx *model.Context, pp []*model.Page, conf *model.Configuration) error {
+func fillPostProc(ctx *model.Context, pp []*model.Page) error {
 	if _, _, err := create.UpdatePageTree(ctx, pp, nil); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -553,10 +509,6 @@ func FillForm(rs io.ReadSeeker, rd io.Reader, w io.Writer, conf *model.Configura
 
 	ctx.RemoveSignature()
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	if _, err := io.Copy(&buf, rd); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -596,11 +548,11 @@ func FillForm(rs io.ReadSeeker, rd io.Reader, w io.Writer, conf *model.Configura
 		return ErrNoFormFieldsAffected
 	}
 
-	if err := fillPostProc(ctx, pp, conf); err != nil {
+	if err := fillPostProc(ctx, pp); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // FillFormFile populates the form inFilePDF with data from inFileJSON and writes the result to outFilePDF.
@@ -716,10 +668,6 @@ func multiFillFormJSON(inFilePDF string, rd io.Reader, outDir, fileName string,
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
 		ok, pp, err := form.FillForm(ctx, form.FillDetails(&f, nil), f.Pages, form.JSON)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -732,8 +680,10 @@ func multiFillFormJSON(inFilePDF string, rd io.Reader, outDir, fileName string,
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-			return err
+		if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+			if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 
 		outFile := filepath.Join(outDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_%02d.pdf", fileName, i+1))
@@ -808,10 +758,6 @@ func multiFillFormCSV(inFilePDF string, rd io.Reader, outDir, fileName string, m
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
 		fieldMap, imgPageMap, err := form.FieldMap(fieldNames, formRecord)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -829,8 +775,10 @@ func multiFillFormCSV(inFilePDF string, rd io.Reader, outDir, fileName string, m
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-			return err
+		if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+			if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 
 		outFile := filepath.Join(outDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s_%02d.pdf", fileName, i+1))
diff --git a/pkg/api/image.go b/pkg/api/image.go
index 6038fc31..c6386240 100644
--- a/pkg/api/image.go
+++ b/pkg/api/image.go
@@ -40,10 +40,6 @@ func Images(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Configuration)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/api/importImage.go b/pkg/api/importImage.go
index ae878939..3932dbf4 100644
--- a/pkg/api/importImage.go
+++ b/pkg/api/importImage.go
@@ -87,19 +87,7 @@ func ImportImages(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, imgs []io.Reader, imp *pdfcpu.I
 		ctx.PageCount++
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 func fileExists(filename string) bool {
diff --git a/pkg/api/info.go b/pkg/api/info.go
index bed022f9..b23862fb 100644
--- a/pkg/api/info.go
+++ b/pkg/api/info.go
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ func PDFInfo(rs io.ReadSeeker, fileName string, selectedPages []string, conf *mo
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, false, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/api/keyword.go b/pkg/api/keyword.go
index 143f2f20..58e2d3d6 100644
--- a/pkg/api/keyword.go
+++ b/pkg/api/keyword.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func AddKeywords(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, files []string, conf *model.Conf
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddKeywordsFile adds keywords to inFile's infodict and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func RemoveKeywords(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, keywords []string, conf *mode
 		return errors.New("no keyword removed")
 	}
 
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RemoveKeywordsFile deletes keywords from inFile's infodict and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/nup.go b/pkg/api/nup.go
index 3534e888..4dfcabf8 100644
--- a/pkg/api/nup.go
+++ b/pkg/api/nup.go
@@ -118,10 +118,6 @@ func NUp(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, imgFiles, selectedPages []string, nup *m
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
 		pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -135,19 +131,7 @@ func NUp(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, imgFiles, selectedPages []string, nup *m
 
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // NUpFile rearranges PDF pages or images into page grids and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/page.go b/pkg/api/page.go
index b10a1d88..6d5638bf 100644
--- a/pkg/api/page.go
+++ b/pkg/api/page.go
@@ -47,10 +47,6 @@ func InsertPages(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, before b
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -60,23 +56,7 @@ func InsertPages(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, before b
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // InsertPagesFile inserts a blank page before or after every inFile page selected and writes the result to w.
@@ -136,10 +116,6 @@ func RemovePages(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, conf *mo
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := RemainingPagesForPageRemoval(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -165,11 +141,7 @@ func RemovePages(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, conf *mo
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctxDest, w)
+	return Write(ctxDest, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RemovePagesFile removes selected inFile pages and writes the result to outFile..
@@ -219,15 +191,11 @@ func PageCount(rs io.ReadSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) (int, error) {
 		return 0, errors.New("pdfcpu: PageCount: missing rs")
 	}
 
-	ctx, err := ReadContext(rs, conf)
+	ctx, err := ReadAndValidate(rs, conf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return 0, err
-	}
-
 	return ctx.PageCount, nil
 }
 
@@ -248,15 +216,11 @@ func PageDims(rs io.ReadSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) ([]types.Dim, error)
 		return nil, errors.New("pdfcpu: PageDims: missing rs")
 	}
 
-	ctx, err := ReadContext(rs, conf)
+	ctx, err := ReadAndValidate(rs, conf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pd, err := ctx.PageDims()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/api/pageLayout.go b/pkg/api/pageLayout.go
index 9ad171aa..e7f143df 100644
--- a/pkg/api/pageLayout.go
+++ b/pkg/api/pageLayout.go
@@ -113,11 +113,7 @@ func SetPageLayout(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, val model.PageLayout, conf *mo
 
 	ctx.RootDict["PageLayout"] = types.Name(val.String())
 
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // SetPageLayoutFile sets inFile's page layout and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -178,11 +174,7 @@ func ResetPageLayout(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, conf *model.Configuration) e
 
 	delete(ctx.RootDict, "PageLayout")
 
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // ResetPageLayoutFile resets inFile's page layout and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/pageMode.go b/pkg/api/pageMode.go
index aca8a275..1ae43b35 100644
--- a/pkg/api/pageMode.go
+++ b/pkg/api/pageMode.go
@@ -113,11 +113,7 @@ func SetPageMode(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, val model.PageMode, conf *model.
 
 	ctx.RootDict["PageMode"] = types.Name(val.String())
 
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // SetPageModeFile sets inFile's page mode and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -178,11 +174,7 @@ func ResetPageMode(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, conf *model.Configuration) err
 
 	delete(ctx.RootDict, "PageMode")
 
-	if err = WriteContext(ctx, w); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // ResetPageModeFile resets inFile's page mode and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/property.go b/pkg/api/property.go
index c89f8972..38767488 100644
--- a/pkg/api/property.go
+++ b/pkg/api/property.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func AddProperties(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, properties map[string]string,
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddPropertiesFile adds properties to inFile's infodict and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func RemoveProperties(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, properties []string, conf *
 		return errors.New("no property removed")
 	}
 
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RemovePropertiesFile deletes properties from inFile's infodict and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/resize.go b/pkg/api/resize.go
index 7476f6cd..d2d5ec9e 100644
--- a/pkg/api/resize.go
+++ b/pkg/api/resize.go
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ func Resize(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, resize *model
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -55,11 +51,7 @@ func Resize(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, resize *model
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // ResizeFile applies resizeConf for selected pages of inFile and writes result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/rotate.go b/pkg/api/rotate.go
index bb3b1f8b..55a53828 100644
--- a/pkg/api/rotate.go
+++ b/pkg/api/rotate.go
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@ func Rotate(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, rotation int, selectedPages []string,
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -54,11 +50,7 @@ func Rotate(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, rotation int, selectedPages []string,
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RotateFile rotates selected pages of inFile clockwise by rotation degrees and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/split.go b/pkg/api/split.go
index f9db3f98..15fe26aa 100644
--- a/pkg/api/split.go
+++ b/pkg/api/split.go
@@ -83,16 +83,7 @@ func context(rs io.ReadSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) (*model.Context, error
 	}
 	conf.Cmd = model.SPLIT
 
-	ctx, err := ReadValidateAndOptimize(rs, conf)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return ctx, nil
+	return ReadValidateAndOptimize(rs, conf)
 }
 
 func pageSpansSplitAlongBookmarks(ctx *model.Context) ([]*PageSpan, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/api/stamp.go b/pkg/api/stamp.go
index c00b6424..d84f2c7d 100644
--- a/pkg/api/stamp.go
+++ b/pkg/api/stamp.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 
-	"github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/pkg/pdfcpu"
 	"github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/pkg/pdfcpu/model"
 	"github.com/pdfcpu/pdfcpu/pkg/pdfcpu/types"
@@ -56,15 +55,7 @@ func AddWatermarksMap(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, m map[int]*model.Watermark,
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddWatermarksMapFile adds watermarks to corresponding pages in m of inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -132,15 +123,7 @@ func AddWatermarksSliceMap(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, m map[int][]*model.Wat
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddWatermarksSliceMapFile adds watermarks to corresponding pages in m of inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -205,10 +188,6 @@ func AddWatermarks(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, wm *mo
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	var pages types.IntSet
 	pages, err = PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -219,15 +198,7 @@ func AddWatermarks(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, wm *mo
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // AddWatermarksFile adds watermarks to all selected pages of inFile and writes the result to outFile.
@@ -287,10 +258,6 @@ func RemoveWatermarks(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, con
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -300,15 +267,7 @@ func RemoveWatermarks(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, con
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if log.StatsEnabled() {
-		log.Stats.Printf("XRefTable:\n%s\n", ctx)
-	}
-
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // RemoveWatermarksFile removes watermarks from all selected pages of inFile and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/api/test/api_test.go b/pkg/api/test/api_test.go
index 3036357d..2128326d 100644
--- a/pkg/api/test/api_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/test/api_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ func imageFileNames(t *testing.T, dir string) []string {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	sort.Strings(fn)
 	return fn
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/api/test/box_test.go b/pkg/api/test/box_test.go
index bd26e780..ca0a392f 100644
--- a/pkg/api/test/box_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/test/box_test.go
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ func listBoxes(t *testing.T, fileName string, pb *model.PageBoundaries) ([]strin
 		t.Fatalf("%s ReadValidateAndOptimize: %v\n", msg, err)
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("%s EnsurePageCount: %v\n", msg, err)
-	}
-
 	if pb == nil {
 		pb = &model.PageBoundaries{}
 		pb.SelectAll()
diff --git a/pkg/api/test/form_test.go b/pkg/api/test/form_test.go
index c1e90981..606f582b 100644
--- a/pkg/api/test/form_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/test/form_test.go
@@ -51,10 +51,6 @@ func listFormFieldsFile(t *testing.T, inFile string, conf *model.Configuration)
 		t.Fatalf("%s: %v\n", msg, err)
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("%s: %v\n", msg, err)
-	}
-
 	return form.ListFormFields(ctx)
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/api/trim.go b/pkg/api/trim.go
index 75c8373d..ee6b79fa 100644
--- a/pkg/api/trim.go
+++ b/pkg/api/trim.go
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ func Trim(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Con
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, false, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -73,8 +69,10 @@ func Trim(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Con
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if conf.PostProcessValidate {
+		if err = ValidateContext(ctxDest); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	return WriteContext(ctxDest, w)
diff --git a/pkg/api/viewerPreferences.go b/pkg/api/viewerPreferences.go
index e49287a0..6355146d 100644
--- a/pkg/api/viewerPreferences.go
+++ b/pkg/api/viewerPreferences.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func SetViewerPreferences(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, vp model.ViewerPreferen
 
 	ctx.XRefTable.BindViewerPreferences()
 
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // SetViewerPreferencesFromJSONBytes sets rs's viewer preferences corresponding to jsonBytes and writes the result to w.
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ func ResetViewerPreferences(rs io.ReadSeeker, w io.Writer, conf *model.Configura
 
 	delete(ctx.RootDict, "ViewerPreferences")
 
-	return WriteContext(ctx, w)
+	return Write(ctx, w, conf)
 }
 
 // ResetViewerPreferencesFile resets inFile's viewer preferences and writes the result to outFile.
diff --git a/pkg/cli/list.go b/pkg/cli/list.go
index f015bb94..08e9d044 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/list.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/list.go
@@ -125,10 +125,6 @@ func listBoxes(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, pb *model.PageBoundarie
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := api.PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -165,10 +161,6 @@ func listFormFields(rs io.ReadSeeker, conf *model.Configuration) ([]string, erro
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	return form.ListFormFields(ctx)
 }
 
@@ -221,10 +213,6 @@ func listImages(rs io.ReadSeeker, selectedPages []string, conf *model.Configurat
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if err := ctx.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	pages, err := api.PagesForPageSelection(ctx.PageCount, selectedPages, true, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/pdfcpu/bookmark.go b/pkg/pdfcpu/bookmark.go
index 1c42dea0..f2b0e702 100644
--- a/pkg/pdfcpu/bookmark.go
+++ b/pkg/pdfcpu/bookmark.go
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ func addBookmarkTree(ctx *model.Context, bmTree *BookmarkTree, replace bool) err
 	return AddBookmarks(ctx, bmTree.Bookmarks, replace)
 }
 
-func parseBookmarksFromJSON(ctx *model.Context, bb []byte) (*BookmarkTree, error) {
+func parseBookmarksFromJSON(bb []byte) (*BookmarkTree, error) {
 
 	if !json.Valid(bb) {
 		return nil, errors.Errorf("pdfcpu: invalid JSON encoding detected.")
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ func ImportBookmarks(ctx *model.Context, rd io.Reader, replace bool) (bool, erro
 		return false, err
 	}
 
-	bmTree, err := parseBookmarksFromJSON(ctx, buf.Bytes())
+	bmTree, err := parseBookmarksFromJSON(buf.Bytes())
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/configuration.go b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/configuration.go
index 85c3f3fc..316545b4 100644
--- a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/configuration.go
+++ b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/configuration.go
@@ -170,6 +170,9 @@ type Configuration struct {
 	// Validate against ISO-32000: strict or relaxed.
 	ValidationMode int
 
+	// Enable validation right before writing.
+	PostProcessValidate bool
+
 	// Check for broken links in LinkedAnnotations/URIActions.
 	ValidateLinks bool
 
diff --git a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig.go b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig.go
index 55452cc3..d8a9aded 100644
--- a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig.go
+++ b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type configuration struct {
 	Reader15                        bool   `yaml:"reader15"`
 	DecodeAllStreams                bool   `yaml:"decodeAllStreams"`
 	ValidationMode                  string `yaml:"validationMode"`
+	PostProcessValidate             bool   `yaml:"postProcessValidate"`
 	Eol                             string `yaml:"eol"`
 	WriteObjectStream               bool   `yaml:"writeObjectStream"`
 	WriteXRefStream                 bool   `yaml:"writeXRefStream"`
@@ -68,6 +69,8 @@ func loadedConfig(c configuration, configPath string) *Configuration {
 		conf.ValidationMode = ValidationRelaxed
 	}
 
+	conf.PostProcessValidate = c.PostProcessValidate
+
 	switch c.Eol {
 	case "EolLF":
 		conf.Eol = types.EolLF
diff --git a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig_js.go b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig_js.go
index e29204f9..b34ebd97 100644
--- a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig_js.go
+++ b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/parseConfig_js.go
@@ -55,6 +55,15 @@ func handleConfDecodeAllStreams(k, v string, c *Configuration) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func handleConfPostProcessValidate(k, v string, c *Configuration) error {
+	v = strings.ToLower(v)
+	if v != "true" && v != "false" {
+		return errors.Errorf("config key %s is boolean", k)
+	}
+	c.PostProcessValidate = v == "true"
+	return nil
+}
+
 func handleConfValidationMode(v string, c *Configuration) error {
 	v1 := strings.ToLower(v)
 	switch v1 {
@@ -200,6 +209,9 @@ func parseKeysPart1(k, v string, c *Configuration) (bool, error) {
 	case "validationMode":
 		return true, handleConfValidationMode(v, c)
 
+	case "postProcessValidate":
+		return true, handleConfPostProcessValidate(k, v, c)
+
 	case "eol":
 		return true, handleConfEol(v, c)
 
@@ -208,7 +220,6 @@ func parseKeysPart1(k, v string, c *Configuration) (bool, error) {
 
 	case "writeXRefStream":
 		return true, handleConfWriteXRefStream(k, v, c)
-
 	}
 
 	return false, nil
diff --git a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/resources/config.yml b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/resources/config.yml
index e840afe3..3a9aa5f5 100644
--- a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/resources/config.yml
+++ b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/resources/config.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ decodeAllStreams: false
 # ValidationRelaxed,
 validationMode: ValidationRelaxed
 
+# validate cross reference table right before writing
+postProcessValidate: true
+
 # eol for writing:
 # EolLF
 # EolCR
diff --git a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/xreftable.go b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/xreftable.go
index 10fa50a0..801aff63 100644
--- a/pkg/pdfcpu/model/xreftable.go
+++ b/pkg/pdfcpu/model/xreftable.go
@@ -2038,7 +2038,6 @@ func (xRefTable *XRefTable) PageNumber(pageObjNr int) (int, error) {
 }
 
 // EnsurePageCount evaluates the page count for xRefTable if necessary.
-// Important when validation is turned off.
 func (xRefTable *XRefTable) EnsurePageCount() error {
 	if xRefTable.PageCount > 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -2091,7 +2090,6 @@ func (xRefTable *XRefTable) collectPageBoundariesForPage(d types.Dict, pb []Page
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: collectMediaBoxesForPageTree: mediaBox is nil")
 	}
 
-	//if inhCropBox != nil && inhCropBox.Rectangle != nil {
 	if inhCropBox != nil {
 		pb[p].Crop = &Box{Rect: inhCropBox, Inherited: true}
 	}
@@ -2245,59 +2243,15 @@ func (xRefTable *XRefTable) collectPageBoundariesForPageTree(
 		return errors.New("pdfcpu: validatePagesDict: corrupt \"Kids\" entry")
 	}
 
-	if err := xRefTable.collectPageBoundariesForPageTreeKids(kids, inhMediaBox, inhCropBox, pb, r, p, selectedPages); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// // Iterate over page tree.
-	// for _, o := range kids {
-
-	// 	if o == nil {
-	// 		continue
-	// 	}
-
-	// 	// Dereference next page node dict.
-	// 	ir, ok := o.(types.IndirectRef)
-	// 	if !ok {
-	// 		return errors.Errorf("pdfcpu: collectMediaBoxesForPageTree: corrupt page node dict")
-	// 	}
-
-	// 	pageNodeDict, err := xRefTable.DereferenceDict(ir)
-	// 	if err != nil {
-	// 		return err
-	// 	}
-
-	// 	switch *pageNodeDict.Type() {
-
-	// 	case "Pages":
-	// 		if err = xRefTable.collectPageBoundariesForPageTree(&ir, inhMediaBox, inhCropBox, pb, r, p, selectedPages); err != nil {
-	// 			return err
-	// 		}
-
-	// 	case "Page":
-	// 		collect := len(selectedPages) == 0
-	// 		if !collect {
-	// 			_, collect = selectedPages[(*p)+1]
-	// 		}
-	// 		if collect {
-	// 			if err = xRefTable.collectPageBoundariesForPageTree(&ir, inhMediaBox, inhCropBox, pb, r, p, selectedPages); err != nil {
-	// 				return err
-	// 			}
-	// 		}
-	// 		*p++
-	// 	}
-
-	// }
-
-	return nil
+	return xRefTable.collectPageBoundariesForPageTreeKids(kids, inhMediaBox, inhCropBox, pb, r, p, selectedPages)
 }
 
 // PageBoundaries returns a sorted slice with page boundaries
 // for all pages sorted ascending by page number.
 func (xRefTable *XRefTable) PageBoundaries(selectedPages types.IntSet) ([]PageBoundaries, error) {
-	if err := xRefTable.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+	// if err := xRefTable.EnsurePageCount(); err != nil {
+	// 	return nil, err
+	// }
 
 	// Get an indirect reference to the page tree root dict.
 	root, err := xRefTable.Pages()
@@ -2741,7 +2695,10 @@ func (xRefTable *XRefTable) RemoveSignature() {
 		d2 := xRefTable.Form
 		delete(d2, "SigFlags")
 		delete(d2, "XFA")
-		//delete(d2, "NeedAppearances") deprecated in PDF 2.0
+		if xRefTable.Version() == V20 {
+			// deprecated in PDF 2.0
+			delete(d2, "NeedAppearances")
+		}
 		d1["AcroForm"] = d2
 		delete(d1, "Extensions")
 	}