diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index 7c0a891..40b02bc 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -32,21 +32,6 @@ func (p *Parser) Parse(tokenString string, keyFunc Keyfunc) (*Token, error) {
 		return token, &ValidationError{err: err.Error(), Errors: ValidationErrorMalformed}
 	}
 
-	// Verify signing method is in the required set
-	if p.ValidMethods != nil {
-		var signingMethodValid = false
-		var alg = token.Method.Alg()
-		for _, m := range p.ValidMethods {
-			if m == alg {
-				signingMethodValid = true
-				break
-			}
-		}
-		if !signingMethodValid {
-			return nil, &ValidationError{err: fmt.Sprintf("signing method %v is invalid", alg), Errors: ValidationErrorSignatureInvalid}
-		}
-	}
-
 	// parse Claims
 	var claimBytes []byte
 	if claimBytes, err = DecodeSegment(parts[1]); err != nil {
@@ -69,6 +54,22 @@ func (p *Parser) Parse(tokenString string, keyFunc Keyfunc) (*Token, error) {
 		return token, &ValidationError{err: "signing method (alg) is unspecified.", Errors: ValidationErrorUnverifiable}
 	}
 
+	// Verify signing method is in the required set
+	if p.ValidMethods != nil {
+		var signingMethodValid = false
+		var alg = token.Method.Alg()
+		for _, m := range p.ValidMethods {
+			if m == alg {
+				signingMethodValid = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if !signingMethodValid {
+			// signing method is not in the listed set
+			return token, &ValidationError{err: fmt.Sprintf("signing method %v is invalid", alg), Errors: ValidationErrorSignatureInvalid}
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Lookup key
 	var key interface{}
 	if keyFunc == nil {
diff --git a/parser_test.go b/parser_test.go
index 9108ded..6592aff 100644
--- a/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package jwt_test
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/dgrijalva/jwt-go"
 	"io/ioutil"
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 	claims      map[string]interface{}
 	valid       bool
 	errors      uint32
+	parser      *jwt.Parser
 }{
 	{
 		"basic",
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 		true,
 		0,
+		nil,
 	},
 	{
 		"basic expired",
@@ -41,6 +44,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar", "exp": float64(time.Now().Unix() - 100)},
 		false,
 		jwt.ValidationErrorExpired,
+		nil,
 	},
 	{
 		"basic nbf",
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar", "nbf": float64(time.Now().Unix() + 100)},
 		false,
 		jwt.ValidationErrorNotValidYet,
+		nil,
 	},
 	{
 		"expired and nbf",
@@ -57,6 +62,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar", "nbf": float64(time.Now().Unix() + 100), "exp": float64(time.Now().Unix() - 100)},
 		false,
 		jwt.ValidationErrorNotValidYet | jwt.ValidationErrorExpired,
+		nil,
 	},
 	{
 		"basic invalid",
@@ -65,6 +71,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 		false,
 		jwt.ValidationErrorSignatureInvalid,
+		nil,
 	},
 	{
 		"basic nokeyfunc",
@@ -73,6 +80,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 		false,
 		jwt.ValidationErrorUnverifiable,
+		nil,
 	},
 	{
 		"basic nokey",
@@ -81,6 +89,7 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 		false,
 		jwt.ValidationErrorSignatureInvalid,
+		nil,
 	},
 	{
 		"basic errorkey",
@@ -89,6 +98,25 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 		false,
 		jwt.ValidationErrorUnverifiable,
+		nil,
+	},
+	{
+		"invalid signing method",
+		"",
+		defaultKeyFunc,
+		map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
+		false,
+		jwt.ValidationErrorSignatureInvalid,
+		&jwt.Parser{ValidMethods: []string{"HS256"}},
+	},
+	{
+		"JSON Number",
+		"",
+		defaultKeyFunc,
+		map[string]interface{}{"foo": json.Number("123.4")},
+		true,
+		0,
+		&jwt.Parser{UseJSONNumber: true},
 	},
 }
 
@@ -116,12 +144,19 @@ func makeSample(c map[string]interface{}) string {
 	return s
 }
 
-func TestJWT(t *testing.T) {
+func TestParser_Parse(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, data := range jwtTestData {
 		if data.tokenString == "" {
 			data.tokenString = makeSample(data.claims)
 		}
-		token, err := jwt.Parse(data.tokenString, data.keyfunc)
+
+		var token *jwt.Token
+		var err error
+		if data.parser != nil {
+			token, err = data.parser.Parse(data.tokenString, data.keyfunc)
+		} else {
+			token, err = jwt.Parse(data.tokenString, data.keyfunc)
+		}
 
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(data.claims, token.Claims) {
 			t.Errorf("[%v] Claims mismatch. Expecting: %v  Got: %v", data.name, data.claims, token.Claims)
@@ -137,8 +172,8 @@ func TestJWT(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Errorf("[%v] Expecting error.  Didn't get one.", data.name)
 			} else {
 				// compare the bitfield part of the error
-				if err.(*jwt.ValidationError).Errors != data.errors {
-					t.Errorf("[%v] Errors don't match expectation", data.name)
+				if e := err.(*jwt.ValidationError).Errors; e != data.errors {
+					t.Errorf("[%v] Errors don't match expectation.  %v != %v", data.name, e, data.errors)
 				}
 
 			}
@@ -149,6 +184,12 @@ func TestJWT(t *testing.T) {
 func TestParseRequest(t *testing.T) {
 	// Bearer token request
 	for _, data := range jwtTestData {
+		// FIXME: custom parsers are not supported by this helper.  skip tests that require them
+		if data.parser != nil {
+			t.Logf("Skipping [%v].  Custom parsers are not supported by ParseRequest", data.name)
+			continue
+		}
+
 		if data.tokenString == "" {
 			data.tokenString = makeSample(data.claims)
 		}