diff --git a/include/iris/x4/rule.hpp b/include/iris/x4/rule.hpp
index de7c06650..f9577a9b6 100644
--- a/include/iris/x4/rule.hpp
+++ b/include/iris/x4/rule.hpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 namespace iris::x4 {
 
-template<class RuleID, X4Attribute Attr = unused_type, bool ForceAttribute = false>
+template<class RuleID, class RuleAttr = unused_type, bool ForceAttribute = false>
 struct rule;
 
 namespace detail {
@@ -385,12 +385,12 @@ concept RuleAttrCompatible =
 
 } // detail
 
-template<class RuleID, X4Attribute RuleAttr, bool ForceAttr>
+template<class RuleID, class RuleAttr, bool ForceAttr>
 struct rule : parser<rule<RuleID, RuleAttr, ForceAttr>>
 {
-    static_assert(X4Attribute<RuleAttr>);
-    static_assert(X4UnusedAttribute<RuleAttr> || !std::is_const_v<RuleAttr>, "Rule attribute cannot be const qualified");
-    static_assert(!std::is_same_v<std::remove_const_t<RuleAttr>, unused_container_type>, "`rule` with `unused_container_type` is not supported");
+    // This type MUST be constructible with incomplete types.
+    // Do NOT add `static_assert`s or other constructs that cause eager
+    // instantiation of `RuleAttr` within this class body.
 
     using id = RuleID;
     using attribute_type = RuleAttr;
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ struct rule : parser<rule<RuleID, RuleAttr, ForceAttr>>
     parse(It& first, Se const& last, Context const& ctx, Exposed& exposed_attr) const
         // never noexcept; requires very complex implementation details
     {
+        check_invariants();
         static_assert(has_attribute, "A rule must have an attribute. Check your rule definition.");
 
         // Remove the `_rule_var` context. This makes the actual `context` type passed to
@@ -476,6 +477,7 @@ struct rule : parser<rule<RuleID, RuleAttr, ForceAttr>>
     parse(It& first, Se const& last, Context const& ctx, unused_type const&) const
         // never noexcept; requires very complex implementation details
     {
+        check_invariants();
         // make sure we pass exactly the rule attribute type
         attribute_type no_attr; // default-initialize
 
@@ -497,6 +499,7 @@ struct rule : parser<rule<RuleID, RuleAttr, ForceAttr>>
             >
         )
     {
+        check_invariants();
         return {as_parser(std::forward<RHS>(rhs)), name};
     }
 
@@ -511,6 +514,7 @@ struct rule : parser<rule<RuleID, RuleAttr, ForceAttr>>
             >
         )
     {
+        check_invariants();
         return {as_parser(std::forward<RHS>(rhs)), name};
     }
 
@@ -530,6 +534,7 @@ struct rule : parser<rule<RuleID, RuleAttr, ForceAttr>>
             >
         )
     {
+        check_invariants();
         return {as_parser(std::forward<RHS>(rhs)), name};
     }
 
@@ -544,8 +549,17 @@ struct rule : parser<rule<RuleID, RuleAttr, ForceAttr>>
             >
         )
     {
+        check_invariants();
         return {as_parser(std::forward<RHS>(rhs)), name};
     }
+
+private:
+    static constexpr void check_invariants() noexcept
+    {
+        static_assert(X4Attribute<RuleAttr>);
+        static_assert(X4UnusedAttribute<RuleAttr> || !std::is_const_v<RuleAttr>, "Rule attribute cannot be const qualified");
+        static_assert(!std::is_same_v<std::remove_const_t<RuleAttr>, unused_container_type>, "`rule` with `unused_container_type` is not supported");
+    }
 };
 
 namespace detail {
diff --git a/test/x4/rule1.cpp b/test/x4/rule1.cpp
index ebc04f753..dcd73998c 100644
--- a/test/x4/rule1.cpp
+++ b/test/x4/rule1.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,13 @@
 #include <iris/x4/operator/sequence.hpp>
 #include <iris/x4/operator/kleene.hpp>
 
+TEST_CASE("rule: constructible with incomplete type")
+{
+    struct incomplete_type;
+    [[maybe_unused]] constexpr x4::rule<struct incomplete_type_id, incomplete_type, false> incomplete_type_rule_a{};
+    [[maybe_unused]] constexpr x4::rule<struct incomplete_type_id, incomplete_type, true> incomplete_type_rule_b{};
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("rule1")
 {
     using namespace x4::standard;