diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 440e15d..7f18861 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ await fastify.register(import('@fastify/fastify-openapi-router-plugin'), {
 ```
 
 > [!TIP]
-> The `scopes` returned by the security handler can contain **wildcards**. For example, if the security handler returns `{ scopes: ['pets:*'] }`, the route will be authorized for any security scope that starts with `pets:`.
+> The `scopes` returned by the security handler can contain trailing **wildcards**. For example, if the security handler returns `{ scopes: ['pets:*'] }`, the route will be authorized for any security scope that starts with `pets:`.
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
 > If your specification uses `http` security schemes with `in: cookie`, you must register [@fastify/cookie](https://github.com/fastify/fastify-cookie) before this plugin.
@@ -246,6 +246,18 @@ fastify.oas.route({
 });
 ```
 
+### Other exports
+
+#### `errors`
+
+This object contains all error classes that can be thrown by the plugin. It contains the same errors as `fastify.oas.errors`.
+
+#### `verifyScopes(providedScopes, requiredScopes)`
+
+Checks if the `providedScopes` satisfy the `requiredScopes`. Returns an array of missing scopes or an empty array if all scopes are satisfied.
+
+This functions supports trailing **wildcards** on `providedScopes`. For example, if the provided scopes is `['pets:*']` and the required scopes is `['pets:read']`, the function will return an empty array.
+
 ### Caveats
 
 #### Coercing of `parameters`
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 6848c3e..0719f90 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import fp from 'fastify-plugin';
 import plugin from './plugin.js';
 
 export * from './errors/index.js';
+export { verifyScopes } from './utils/security.js';
 
 export default fp(plugin, {
   fastify: '4.x',
diff --git a/src/parser/security.js b/src/parser/security.js
index ea84c0c..ac06a21 100644
--- a/src/parser/security.js
+++ b/src/parser/security.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { DECORATOR_NAME } from '../utils/constants.js';
-import { createUnauthorizedError } from '../errors/index.js';
+import { createScopesMismatchError, createUnauthorizedError } from '../errors/index.js';
 import { extractSecuritySchemeValueFromRequest, verifyScopes } from '../utils/security.js';
 import _ from 'lodash-es';
 import pProps from 'p-props';
@@ -66,10 +66,14 @@ export const applySecurity = (operation, spec, securityHandlers, securityErrorMa
       const blockResults = await pProps(block, async (requiredScopes, name) => {
         try {
           const resolved = await callSecurityHandler(name);
-          const { data, scopes } = resolved ?? {};
+          const { data, scopes: providedScopes = [] } = resolved ?? {};
 
-          // Verify scopes, which throws if scopes are missing.
-          verifyScopes(scopes ?? [], requiredScopes);
+          // Verify scopes to check if any is missing.
+          const missingScopes = verifyScopes(providedScopes, requiredScopes);
+
+          if (missingScopes.length > 0) {
+            throw createScopesMismatchError(providedScopes, requiredScopes, missingScopes);
+          }
 
           return { data, ok: true };
         } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/utils/security.js b/src/utils/security.js
index 54a31fe..3fc945f 100644
--- a/src/utils/security.js
+++ b/src/utils/security.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import { createScopesMismatchError } from '../errors/index.js';
-
 const getValueForHttpSchemeType = (request, securityScheme) => {
   if (securityScheme.scheme === 'bearer') {
     const [, bearer] = request.headers.authorization?.match(/^Bearer (.+)$/i) ?? [];
@@ -74,7 +72,5 @@ export const verifyScopes = (providedScopes, requiredScopes) => {
     return !hasMatchingScope;
   });
 
-  if (missingScopes.length > 0) {
-    throw createScopesMismatchError(providedScopes, requiredScopes, missingScopes);
-  }
+  return missingScopes;
 };
diff --git a/src/utils/security.test.js b/src/utils/security.test.js
index 90a1319..8e2b84f 100644
--- a/src/utils/security.test.js
+++ b/src/utils/security.test.js
@@ -1,26 +1,12 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-import { errors } from '../errors/index';
 import { extractSecuritySchemeValueFromRequest, verifyScopes } from './security';
 import _ from 'lodash-es';
 
 describe('verifyScopes()', () => {
   const runTest = ({ missing, provided, required }) => {
-    try {
-      verifyScopes(provided, required);
-
-      if (missing.length > 0) {
-        throw new Error('Expected an error to be thrown');
-      }
-    } catch (err) {
-      expect(err).toBeInstanceOf(errors.ScopesMismatchError);
-      expect(err).toMatchObject({
-        scopes: {
-          missing: missing,
-          provided: provided,
-          required: required
-        }
-      });
-    }
+    const result = verifyScopes(provided, required);
+
+    expect(result).toStrictEqual(missing);
   };
 
   it('should verify regular scopes correctly against required scopes', async () => {