diff --git a/numpyro/distributions/distribution.py b/numpyro/distributions/distribution.py
index ae08eee91..8540b6e5f 100644
--- a/numpyro/distributions/distribution.py
+++ b/numpyro/distributions/distribution.py
@@ -229,23 +229,34 @@ def __init__(self, batch_shape=(), event_shape=(), *, validate_args=None):
         if validate_args is not None:
             self._validate_args = validate_args
         if self._validate_args:
-            for param, constraint in self.arg_constraints.items():
-                if param not in self.__dict__ and isinstance(
-                    getattr(type(self), param), lazy_property
-                ):
-                    continue
-                if constraints.is_dependent(constraint):
-                    continue  # skip constraints that cannot be checked
-                is_valid = constraint(getattr(self, param))
-                if not_jax_tracer(is_valid):
-                    if not np.all(is_valid):
-                        raise ValueError(
-                            "{} distribution got invalid {} parameter.".format(
-                                self.__class__.__name__, param
-                            )
-                        )
+            self.validate_args(strict=False)
         super(Distribution, self).__init__()
 
+    def validate_args(self, strict: bool = True) -> None:
+        """
+        Validate the arguments of the distribution.
+
+        :param strict: Require strict validation, raising an error if the function is
+            called inside jitted code.
+        """
+        for param, constraint in self.arg_constraints.items():
+            if param not in self.__dict__ and isinstance(
+                getattr(type(self), param), lazy_property
+            ):
+                continue
+            if constraints.is_dependent(constraint):
+                continue  # skip constraints that cannot be checked
+            is_valid = constraint(getattr(self, param))
+            if not_jax_tracer(is_valid):
+                if not np.all(is_valid):
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        "{} distribution got invalid {} parameter.".format(
+                            self.__class__.__name__, param
+                        )
+                    )
+            elif strict:
+                raise RuntimeError("Cannot validate arguments inside jitted code.")
+
     @property
     def batch_shape(self):
         """
diff --git a/test/test_distributions.py b/test/test_distributions.py
index b0c379290..20da4165d 100644
--- a/test/test_distributions.py
+++ b/test/test_distributions.py
@@ -3322,6 +3322,25 @@ def test_vmap_validate_args():
     assert not v_dist._validate_args
 
 
+def test_explicit_validate_args():
+    # Check validation passes for valid parameters.
+    d = dist.Normal(0, 1)
+    d.validate_args()
+
+    # Check validation fails for invalid parameters.
+    d = dist.Normal(0, -1)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="got invalid scale parameter"):
+        d.validate_args()
+
+    # Check validation is skipped for strict=False and raises an error for strict=True.
+    jitted = jax.jit(
+        lambda d, strict: d.validate_args(strict), static_argnames=["strict"]
+    )
+    jitted(d, False)
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Cannot validate arguments"):
+        jitted(d, True)
+
+
 def test_multinomial_abstract_total_count():
     probs = jnp.array([0.2, 0.5, 0.3])
     key = random.PRNGKey(0)