diff --git a/src/core.js b/src/core.js
index 8ceb40fc7..643a04e74 100644
--- a/src/core.js
+++ b/src/core.js
@@ -1230,7 +1230,7 @@ $.extend( $.validator, {
 		var rules = {},
 			validator = $.data( element.form, "validator" );
 
-		if ( validator.settings.rules ) {
+		if ( validator && validator.settings && validator.settings.rules ) {
 			rules = $.validator.normalizeRule( validator.settings.rules[ element.name ] ) || {};
 		}
 		return rules;