diff --git a/internal/config.go b/internal/config.go
index 5d99f99..6d0d405 100644
--- a/internal/config.go
+++ b/internal/config.go
@@ -176,16 +176,15 @@ func (c *Config) parseUnknownFlag(option string, arg flags.SplitArgument, args [
 	// Parse rules in the format "rule.<name>.<param>"
 	parts := strings.Split(option, ".")
 	if len(parts) == 3 && parts[0] == "rule" {
-		// Get or create rule
-		rule, ok := c.Rules[parts[1]]
-		if !ok {
-			rule = NewRule()
-			c.Rules[parts[1]] = rule
+		// Ensure there is a name
+		name := parts[1]
+		if len(name) == 0 {
+			return args, errors.New("route name is required")
 		}
 
 		// Get value, or pop the next arg
 		val, ok := arg.Value()
-		if !ok {
+		if !ok && len(args) > 1 {
 			val = args[0]
 			args = args[1:]
 		}
@@ -204,6 +203,13 @@ func (c *Config) parseUnknownFlag(option string, arg flags.SplitArgument, args [
 			}
 		}
 
+		// Get or create rule
+		rule, ok := c.Rules[name]
+		if !ok {
+			rule = NewRule()
+			c.Rules[name] = rule
+		}
+
 		// Add param value to rule
 		switch parts[2] {
 		case "action":
diff --git a/internal/config_test.go b/internal/config_test.go
index c43c5df..6f2d0a0 100644
--- a/internal/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config_test.go
@@ -98,6 +98,29 @@ func TestConfigParseUnknownFlags(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestConfigParseRuleError(t *testing.T) {
+	assert := assert.New(t)
+
+	// Rule without name
+	_, err := NewConfig([]string{
+		"--rule..action=auth",
+	})
+	if assert.Error(err) {
+		assert.Equal("route name is required", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	// Rule without value
+	c, err := NewConfig([]string{
+		"--rule.one.action=",
+	})
+	if assert.Error(err) {
+		assert.Equal("route param value is required", err.Error())
+	}
+	// Check rules
+	assert.Equal(map[string]*Rule{}, c.Rules)
+}
+
+
 func TestConfigFlagBackwardsCompatability(t *testing.T) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 	c, err := NewConfig([]string{