diff --git a/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/RuleMemberValidator.java b/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/RuleMemberValidator.java
index 36de4f106297..bd56273928cf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/RuleMemberValidator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/RuleMemberValidator.java
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ public class RuleMemberValidator {
             .withValidator(new DeclaringClassMustBePublic())
             .withValidator(new MemberMustBeStatic())
             .withValidator(new MemberMustBePublic())
-            .withValidator(new FieldMustBeATestRule())
             .build();
     /**
      * Validates fields with a {@link Rule} annotation.
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ public class RuleMemberValidator {
             testRuleValidatorBuilder()
             .withValidator(new MemberMustBeNonStaticOrAlsoClassRule())
             .withValidator(new MemberMustBePublic())
-            .withValidator(new FieldMustBeARule())
             .build();
     /**
      * Validates methods with a {@link ClassRule} annotation.
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/ValidationError.java b/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/ValidationError.java
index 31bd66019e09..a6eea4c0aafa 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/ValidationError.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/junit/internal/runners/rules/ValidationError.java
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
 
-class ValidationError extends Exception {
+public class ValidationError extends Exception {
 
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 3176511008672645574L;
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java
index 455341aa0cb9..e7ae916a3ca0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 import org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod;
 import org.junit.runners.model.InitializationError;
 import org.junit.runners.model.MemberValueConsumer;
+import org.junit.runners.model.MemberValueConsumerExtension;
 import org.junit.runners.model.MultipleFailureException;
 import org.junit.runners.model.Statement;
 import org.junit.runners.model.TestClass;
@@ -456,7 +457,8 @@ private long getTimeout(Test annotation) {
     private static final ThreadLocal<RuleContainer> CURRENT_RULE_CONTAINER =
             new ThreadLocal<RuleContainer>();
 
-    private static class RuleCollector<T> implements MemberValueConsumer<T> {
+    private static class RuleCollector<T> implements MemberValueConsumer<T>,
+            MemberValueConsumerExtension {
         final List<T> result = new ArrayList<T>();
 
         public void accept(FrameworkMember<?> member, T value) {
@@ -469,5 +471,15 @@ public void accept(FrameworkMember<?> member, T value) {
             }
             result.add(value);
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public void acceptMismatchedTypeValue(FrameworkMember<?> member, Object value) {
+            RuleContainer container = CURRENT_RULE_CONTAINER.get();
+            if (container != null
+                    && !(value instanceof TestRule)
+                    && !(value instanceof MethodRule)) {
+                container.addMismatchedTypeValue(member, value);
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/ParentRunner.java b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/ParentRunner.java
index 0a0e7cb6a583..933548659a82 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/ParentRunner.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/ParentRunner.java
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 import org.junit.Rule;
 import org.junit.internal.AssumptionViolatedException;
 import org.junit.internal.runners.model.EachTestNotifier;
+import org.junit.internal.runners.rules.ValidationError;
+import org.junit.internal.runners.statements.Fail;
 import org.junit.internal.runners.statements.RunAfters;
 import org.junit.internal.runners.statements.RunBefores;
 import org.junit.rules.RunRules;
@@ -44,6 +46,8 @@
 import org.junit.runners.model.InitializationError;
 import org.junit.runners.model.InvalidTestClassError;
 import org.junit.runners.model.MemberValueConsumer;
+import org.junit.runners.model.MemberValueConsumerExtension;
+import org.junit.runners.model.MultipleFailureException;
 import org.junit.runners.model.RunnerScheduler;
 import org.junit.runners.model.Statement;
 import org.junit.runners.model.TestClass;
@@ -561,8 +565,10 @@ public void setScheduler(RunnerScheduler scheduler) {
         this.scheduler = scheduler;
     }
 
-    private static class ClassRuleCollector implements MemberValueConsumer<TestRule> {
+    private static class ClassRuleCollector implements MemberValueConsumer<TestRule>,
+            MemberValueConsumerExtension {
         final List<RuleContainer.RuleEntry> entries = new ArrayList<RuleContainer.RuleEntry>();
+        final List<Throwable> errors = new ArrayList<Throwable>();
 
         public void accept(FrameworkMember<?> member, TestRule value) {
             ClassRule rule = member.getAnnotation(ClassRule.class);
@@ -570,7 +576,21 @@ public void accept(FrameworkMember<?> member, TestRule value) {
                     rule != null ? rule.order() : null));
         }
 
+        @Override
+        public void acceptMismatchedTypeValue(FrameworkMember<?> member, Object value) {
+            errors.add(new ValidationError(member, ClassRule.class, "must implement TestRule."));
+        }
+
         public List<TestRule> getOrderedRules() {
+            if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
+                List<TestRule> result = new ArrayList<TestRule>(1);
+                result.add(new TestRule() {
+                    public Statement apply(Statement base, Description description) {
+                        return new Fail(errors.size() == 1 ? errors.get(0) : new MultipleFailureException(errors));
+                    }
+                });
+                return result;
+            }
             Collections.sort(entries, RuleContainer.ENTRY_COMPARATOR);
             List<TestRule> result = new ArrayList<TestRule>(entries.size());
             for (RuleContainer.RuleEntry entry : entries) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/RuleContainer.java b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/RuleContainer.java
index 30ddd8d38a03..53961f12ccf0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/RuleContainer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/RuleContainer.java
@@ -3,14 +3,20 @@
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Comparator;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.IdentityHashMap;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.junit.Rule;
+import org.junit.internal.runners.rules.ValidationError;
+import org.junit.internal.runners.statements.Fail;
 import org.junit.rules.MethodRule;
 import org.junit.rules.TestRule;
 import org.junit.runner.Description;
+import org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMember;
 import org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod;
+import org.junit.runners.model.MultipleFailureException;
 import org.junit.runners.model.Statement;
 
 /**
@@ -22,6 +28,8 @@ class RuleContainer {
     private final IdentityHashMap<Object, Integer> orderValues = new IdentityHashMap<Object, Integer>();
     private final List<TestRule> testRules = new ArrayList<TestRule>();
     private final List<MethodRule> methodRules = new ArrayList<MethodRule>();
+    private final Map<FrameworkMember<?>, Object> mismatchedTypeRules =
+            new HashMap<FrameworkMember<?>, Object>();
 
     /**
      * Sets order value for the specified rule.
@@ -38,6 +46,12 @@ public void add(TestRule testRule) {
         testRules.add(testRule);
     }
 
+    public void addMismatchedTypeValue(FrameworkMember<?> member, Object value) {
+        if (!mismatchedTypeRules.containsKey(member)) {
+            mismatchedTypeRules.put(member, value);
+        }
+    }
+
     static final Comparator<RuleEntry> ENTRY_COMPARATOR = new Comparator<RuleEntry>() {
         public int compare(RuleEntry o1, RuleEntry o2) {
             int result = compareInt(o1.order, o2.order);
@@ -70,6 +84,14 @@ private List<RuleEntry> getSortedEntries() {
      */
     public Statement apply(FrameworkMethod method, Description description, Object target,
             Statement statement) {
+        if (!mismatchedTypeRules.isEmpty()) {
+            List<Throwable> errors = new ArrayList<Throwable>();
+            for (Map.Entry<FrameworkMember<?>, Object> entry : mismatchedTypeRules.entrySet()) {
+                errors.add(new ValidationError(entry.getKey(), Rule.class,
+                        "must implement MethodRule or TestRule."));
+            }
+            return new Fail(errors.size() == 1 ? errors.get(0) : new MultipleFailureException(errors));
+        }
         if (methodRules.isEmpty() && testRules.isEmpty()) {
             return statement;
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/model/MemberValueConsumerExtension.java b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/model/MemberValueConsumerExtension.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e65b8ae425ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/model/MemberValueConsumerExtension.java
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package org.junit.runners.model;
+
+/**
+ * @see MemberValueConsumer
+ * @since 4.14
+ */
+public interface MemberValueConsumerExtension {
+    void acceptMismatchedTypeValue(FrameworkMember<?> member, Object value);
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/model/TestClass.java b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/model/TestClass.java
index 5962c2b478dc..09bd4ae63a5b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/model/TestClass.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/junit/runners/model/TestClass.java
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ public <T> void collectAnnotatedFieldValues(Object test,
                 Object fieldValue = each.get(test);
                 if (valueClass.isInstance(fieldValue)) {
                     consumer.accept(each, valueClass.cast(fieldValue));
+                } else if (consumer instanceof MemberValueConsumerExtension) {
+                    ((MemberValueConsumerExtension) consumer).acceptMismatchedTypeValue(each, fieldValue);
                 }
             } catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
                 throw new RuntimeException(
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/ClassRulesTest.java b/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/ClassRulesTest.java
index ddfb74494c97..12d87a99b256 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/ClassRulesTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/ClassRulesTest.java
@@ -109,6 +109,51 @@ public void customRuleIsAppliedOnce() {
         assertEquals(1, ExampleTestWithCustomClassRule.counter.count);
     }
 
+    public static class ExampleTestWithCustomClassRuleDeclaredAsObject {
+        @ClassRule
+        public static final Object counter = new CustomCounter();
+
+        @Test
+        public void firstTest() {
+            assertEquals(1, ((CustomCounter) counter).count);
+        }
+
+        @Test
+        public void secondTest() {
+            assertEquals(1, ((CustomCounter) counter).count);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void classRuleFieldCanBeDeclaredWithOtherType() {
+        ((CustomCounter) ExampleTestWithCustomClassRuleDeclaredAsObject.counter).count = 0;
+        Result result = JUnitCore.runClasses(ExampleTestWithCustomClassRuleDeclaredAsObject.class);
+        assertTrue("wasSuccessful", result.wasSuccessful());
+        assertEquals(1,
+                ((CustomCounter) ExampleTestWithCustomClassRuleDeclaredAsObject.counter).count);
+    }
+
+    public static class ExampleTestWithMismatchedClassRuleType {
+        @ClassRule
+        public static final String example1 = "Example";
+        @ClassRule
+        public static final String example2 = "Example";
+
+        @Test
+        public void firstTest() {
+        }
+
+        @Test
+        public void secondTest() {
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void classRuleFieldMismatchedType() {
+        Result result = JUnitCore.runClasses(ExampleTestWithMismatchedClassRuleType.class);
+        assertEquals(2, result.getFailureCount());
+    }
+
     private static final List<String> orderList = new LinkedList<String>();
 
     private static class OrderTestRule implements TestRule {
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/RuleMemberValidatorTest.java b/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/RuleMemberValidatorTest.java
index 01465a661230..9193fecd9061 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/RuleMemberValidatorTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/RuleMemberValidatorTest.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import java.util.List;
 
 import org.junit.ClassRule;
+import org.junit.Ignore;
 import org.junit.Rule;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod;
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ static class NonPublicTestWithClassRule {
      * <a href="https://github.com/junit-team/junit4/issues/1019">Issue #1019</a>
      */
     @Test
+    @Ignore
     public void rejectClassRuleThatIsImplementationOfMethodRule() {
         TestClass target = new TestClass(TestWithClassRuleIsImplementationOfMethodRule.class);
         CLASS_RULE_VALIDATOR.validate(target, errors);
@@ -126,6 +128,7 @@ public Statement apply(Statement base, FrameworkMethod method, Object target) {
      * <a href="https://github.com/junit-team/junit4/issues/1019">Issue #1019</a>
      */
     @Test
+    @Ignore
     public void rejectClassRuleIsAnArbitraryObject() throws Exception {
         TestClass target = new TestClass(TestWithClassRuleIsAnArbitraryObject.class);
         CLASS_RULE_VALIDATOR.validate(target, errors);
@@ -212,6 +215,7 @@ public Statement apply(Statement base, FrameworkMethod method,
     }
 
     @Test
+    @Ignore
     public void rejectArbitraryObjectWithRuleAnnotation() throws Exception {
         TestClass target = new TestClass(TestWithArbitraryObjectWithRuleAnnotation.class);
         RULE_VALIDATOR.validate(target, errors);
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/TestRuleTest.java b/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/TestRuleTest.java
index cc6db7d9eb34..d56f776fa9f6 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/TestRuleTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/junit/rules/TestRuleTest.java
@@ -24,19 +24,21 @@
 public class TestRuleTest {
     private static boolean wasRun;
 
+    private static class ExampleRule implements TestRule {
+        public Statement apply(final Statement base, Description description) {
+            return new Statement() {
+                @Override
+                public void evaluate() throws Throwable {
+                    wasRun = true;
+                    base.evaluate();
+                }
+            };
+        }
+    }
+
     public static class ExampleTest {
         @Rule
-        public TestRule example = new TestRule() {
-            public Statement apply(final Statement base, Description description) {
-                return new Statement() {
-                    @Override
-                    public void evaluate() throws Throwable {
-                        wasRun = true;
-                        base.evaluate();
-                    }
-                };
-            }
-        };
+        public TestRule example = new ExampleRule();
 
         @Test
         public void nothing() {
@@ -44,6 +46,33 @@ public void nothing() {
         }
     }
 
+    public static class ExampleTestForTestingFieldValueType {
+        @Rule
+        public Object example = new ExampleRule();
+
+        @Test
+        public void nothing() {
+
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static class ExampleTestForTestingInvalidRuleType {
+        @Rule
+        public Object example1 = "Example";
+        @Rule
+        public Object example2 = "Example";
+
+        @Test
+        public void first() {
+
+        }
+
+        @Test
+        public void second() {
+
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void ruleIsIntroducedAndEvaluated() {
         wasRun = false;
@@ -51,6 +80,19 @@ public void ruleIsIntroducedAndEvaluated() {
         assertTrue(wasRun);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void ruleIsIntroducedAndEvaluatedUsingValueType() {
+        wasRun = false;
+        JUnitCore.runClasses(ExampleTestForTestingFieldValueType.class);
+        assertTrue(wasRun);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void ruleOfInvalidTypeIsReported() {
+        Result result = JUnitCore.runClasses(ExampleTestForTestingInvalidRuleType.class);
+        assertEquals(4, result.getFailureCount());
+    }
+
     public static class BothKindsOfRule implements TestRule, org.junit.rules.MethodRule {
         public int applications = 0;