diff --git a/easy-rules-core/src/main/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngine.java b/easy-rules-core/src/main/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngine.java
index 8c57e07..98581ec 100644
--- a/easy-rules-core/src/main/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngine.java
+++ b/easy-rules-core/src/main/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngine.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.TreeSet;
 
@@ -72,6 +73,8 @@ public final class InferenceRulesEngine extends AbstractRulesEngine {
 
     @Override
     public void fire(Rules rules, Facts facts) {
+        Objects.requireNonNull(rules, "Rules must not be null");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(facts, "Facts must not be null");
         Set<Rule> selectedRules;
         do {
             LOGGER.debug("Selecting candidate rules based on the following facts: {}", facts);
@@ -96,6 +99,8 @@ public final class InferenceRulesEngine extends AbstractRulesEngine {
 
     @Override
     public Map<Rule, Boolean> check(Rules rules, Facts facts) {
+        Objects.requireNonNull(rules, "Rules must not be null");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(facts, "Facts must not be null");
         return delegate.check(rules, facts);
     }
 
diff --git a/easy-rules-core/src/test/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngineTest.java b/easy-rules-core/src/test/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngineTest.java
index 0104e79..c97ab41 100644
--- a/easy-rules-core/src/test/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngineTest.java
+++ b/easy-rules-core/src/test/java/org/jeasy/rules/core/InferenceRulesEngineTest.java
@@ -38,6 +38,30 @@ import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
 
 public class InferenceRulesEngineTest {
 
+    @Test(expected = NullPointerException.class)
+    public void whenFireRules_thenNullRulesShouldNotBeAccepted() {
+        InferenceRulesEngine engine = new InferenceRulesEngine();
+        engine.fire(null, new Facts());
+    }
+
+    @Test(expected = NullPointerException.class)
+    public void whenFireRules_thenNullFactsShouldNotBeAccepted() {
+        InferenceRulesEngine engine = new InferenceRulesEngine();
+        engine.fire(new Rules(), null);
+    }
+
+    @Test(expected = NullPointerException.class)
+    public void whenCheckRules_thenNullRulesShouldNotBeAccepted() {
+        InferenceRulesEngine engine = new InferenceRulesEngine();
+        engine.check(null, new Facts());
+    }
+
+    @Test(expected = NullPointerException.class)
+    public void whenCheckRules_thenNullFactsShouldNotBeAccepted() {
+        InferenceRulesEngine engine = new InferenceRulesEngine();
+        engine.check(new Rules(), null);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testCandidateSelection() {
         // Given