diff --git a/openbadges/verifier/utils.py b/openbadges/verifier/utils.py
index a0f6ec8..1cc90fe 100644
--- a/openbadges/verifier/utils.py
+++ b/openbadges/verifier/utils.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def __call__(self, url):
                     code='loading document failed')
 
             response = self.session.get(
-                url, headers={'Accept': 'application/ld+json, application/json'})
+                url, headers={'User-Agent': 'Open Badges Validator Core', 'Accept': 'application/ld+json, application/json'})
 
             doc = {'contextUrl': None, 'documentUrl': url, 'document': response.text}