diff --git a/lib/core/public/configure.js b/lib/core/public/configure.js
index 52d8cd280f..e7f06dbf7a 100644
--- a/lib/core/public/configure.js
+++ b/lib/core/public/configure.js
@@ -44,14 +44,40 @@ function configureChecksRulesAndBranding(spec) {
 	}
 
 	if (spec.checks) {
+		if (!Array.isArray(spec.checks)) {
+			throw new TypeError('Checks property must be an array');
+		}
+
 		spec.checks.forEach(function(check) {
+			if (!check.id) {
+				throw new TypeError(
+					// eslint-disable-next-line max-len
+					`Configured check ${JSON.stringify(
+						check
+					)} is invalid. Checks must be an object with at least an id property`
+				);
+			}
+
 			audit.addCheck(check);
 		});
 	}
 
 	const modifiedRules = [];
 	if (spec.rules) {
+		if (!Array.isArray(spec.rules)) {
+			throw new TypeError('Rules property must be an array');
+		}
+
 		spec.rules.forEach(function(rule) {
+			if (!rule.id) {
+				throw new TypeError(
+					// eslint-disable-next-line max-len
+					`Configured rule ${JSON.stringify(
+						rule
+					)} is invalid. Rules must be an object with at least an id property`
+				);
+			}
+
 			modifiedRules.push(rule.id);
 			audit.addRule(rule);
 		});
diff --git a/test/core/public/configure.js b/test/core/public/configure.js
index 8b0858a31c..bd0de22286 100644
--- a/test/core/public/configure.js
+++ b/test/core/public/configure.js
@@ -56,6 +56,30 @@ describe('axe.configure', function() {
 		assert.deepEqual(axe._audit.data.rules.bob.joe, 'joe');
 	});
 
+	it('should throw error if rules property is invalid', function() {
+		assert.throws(function() {
+			axe.configure({ rules: 'hello' }),
+				TypeError,
+				/^Rules property must be an array/;
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('should throw error if rule is invalid', function() {
+		assert.throws(function() {
+			axe.configure({ rules: ['hello'] }),
+				TypeError,
+				/Configured rule "hello" is invalid/;
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('should throw error if rule does not have an id', function() {
+		assert.throws(function() {
+			axe.configure({ rules: [{ foo: 'bar' }] }),
+				TypeError,
+				/Configured rule "{foo:\"bar\"}" is invalid/;
+		});
+	});
+
 	it('should call setBranding when passed options', function() {
 		axe._load({});
 		axe.configure({
@@ -158,6 +182,30 @@ describe('axe.configure', function() {
 		assert.equal(axe._audit.data.checks.bob.joe, 'joe');
 	});
 
+	it('should throw error if checks property is invalid', function() {
+		assert.throws(function() {
+			axe.configure({ checks: 'hello' }),
+				TypeError,
+				/^Checks property must be an array/;
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('should throw error if check is invalid', function() {
+		assert.throws(function() {
+			axe.configure({ checks: ['hello'] }),
+				TypeError,
+				/Configured check "hello" is invalid/;
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('should throw error if check does not have an id', function() {
+		assert.throws(function() {
+			axe.configure({ checks: [{ foo: 'bar' }] }),
+				TypeError,
+				/Configured check "{foo:\"bar\"}" is invalid/;
+		});
+	});
+
 	it('should allow for the overwriting of checks', function() {
 		axe._load({
 			data: {