diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/metadata/ExtendedMetadata.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/metadata/ExtendedMetadata.java
index a1c6ac6dc..ffec8ae78 100755
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/metadata/ExtendedMetadata.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/metadata/ExtendedMetadata.java
@@ -140,6 +140,12 @@ public class ExtendedMetadata implements Serializable, Cloneable {
      */
     private boolean supportUnsolicitedResponse = true;
 
+    /**
+     * Algorithm used for creation of digest method of this entity. At the moment only used for metadata signatures.
+     * Only valid for local entities.
+     */
+    private String digestMethodAlgorithm;
+
     /**
      * Security profile to use for this local entity - MetaIOP (default) or PKIX.
      *
@@ -573,4 +579,36 @@ public ExtendedMetadata clone() {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns digest method algorithm value
+     * @return String
+     */
+    public String getDigestMethodAlgorithm()
+    {
+        return digestMethodAlgorithm;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the digest method algorithm to use when signing the SAML messages.
+     * This can be used, for example, when a strong algorithm is required (e.g. SHA 256 instead of SHA 128).
+     * If this property is null, then the {@link org.opensaml.xml.Configuration} default algorithm will be used instead.
+     *
+     * Value only applies to local entities.
+     *
+     * At the moment the value is only used for signatures on metadata.
+     *
+     * Typical values are:
+     * http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#sha1
+     * http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#sha256
+     * http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#sha384
+     * http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#sha512
+     * http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#ripemd160
+     *
+     * @param digestMethodAlgorithm The new digest method algorithm to use
+     * @see org.opensaml.xml.signature.SignatureConstants
+     */
+    public void setDigestMethodAlgorithm(String digestMethodAlgorithm)
+    {
+        this.digestMethodAlgorithm = digestMethodAlgorithm;
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/util/SAMLUtil.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/util/SAMLUtil.java
index a004f9034..da2a7de69 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/util/SAMLUtil.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/saml/util/SAMLUtil.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 import org.opensaml.xml.XMLObjectBuilder;
 import org.opensaml.xml.io.Marshaller;
 import org.opensaml.xml.io.MarshallingException;
+import org.opensaml.xml.security.BasicSecurityConfiguration;
 import org.opensaml.xml.security.SecurityHelper;
 import org.opensaml.xml.security.credential.Credential;
 import org.opensaml.xml.signature.KeyInfo;
@@ -447,13 +448,14 @@ public static Element marshallMessage(XMLObject message) throws MessageEncodingE
      * @param signableMessage    object to sign
      * @param signingCredential credential to sign with
      * @param signingAlgorithm  signing algorithm to use (optional). Leave null to use credential's default algorithm
+     * @param signingAlgorithm  digest method algorithm to use (optional). Leave null to use credential's default algorithm
      * @param keyInfoGenerator name of generator used to create KeyInfo elements with key data
      * @throws org.opensaml.ws.message.encoder.MessageEncodingException
      *          thrown if there is a problem marshalling or signing the message
      * @return marshalled and signed message
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-    public static Element marshallAndSignMessage(SignableXMLObject signableMessage, Credential signingCredential, String signingAlgorithm, String keyInfoGenerator) throws MessageEncodingException {
+    public static Element marshallAndSignMessage(SignableXMLObject signableMessage, Credential signingCredential, String signingAlgorithm, String digestMethodAlgorithm, String keyInfoGenerator) throws MessageEncodingException {
 
         if (signingCredential != null && !signableMessage.isSigned()) {
 
@@ -467,8 +469,17 @@ public static Element marshallAndSignMessage(SignableXMLObject signableMessage,
 
             signature.setSigningCredential(signingCredential);
 
+            BasicSecurityConfiguration secConfig = null;
+            
+            if (digestMethodAlgorithm != null)
+            {
+                secConfig = (BasicSecurityConfiguration) Configuration.getGlobalSecurityConfiguration();
+                
+                secConfig.setSignatureReferenceDigestMethod(digestMethodAlgorithm);
+            }
+
             try {
-                SecurityHelper.prepareSignatureParams(signature, signingCredential, null, keyInfoGenerator);
+                SecurityHelper.prepareSignatureParams(signature, signingCredential, secConfig, keyInfoGenerator);
             } catch (org.opensaml.xml.security.SecurityException e) {
                 throw new MessageEncodingException("Error preparing signature for signing", e);
             }
@@ -595,7 +606,8 @@ public static String getMetadataAsString(MetadataManager metadataManager, KeyMan
                 Credential credential = keyManager.getCredential(extendedMetadata.getSigningKey());
                 String signingAlgorithm = extendedMetadata.getSigningAlgorithm();
                 String keyGenerator = extendedMetadata.getKeyInfoGeneratorName();
-                element = SAMLUtil.marshallAndSignMessage(descriptor, credential, signingAlgorithm, keyGenerator);
+                String digestMethodAlgorithm = extendedMetadata.getDigestMethodAlgorithm();
+                element = SAMLUtil.marshallAndSignMessage(descriptor, credential, signingAlgorithm, digestMethodAlgorithm, keyGenerator);
             } else {
                 element = SAMLUtil.marshallMessage(descriptor);
             }