diff --git a/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/main.rs b/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/main.rs
index 43ae7a7..5d5f04e 100644
--- a/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/main.rs
+++ b/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/main.rs
@@ -298,6 +298,13 @@ async fn run(args: Cli) -> Result<()> {
         return init_cli.run().await;
     }
 
+    // Handle `rules validate` before loading config: it needs no Gmail credentials.
+    if let Some(SubCmds::Rules(ref rules_cli)) = args.sub_command
+        && let Some(result) = rules_cli.run_if_validate()
+    {
+        return result;
+    }
+
     // For all other commands, load config normally
     let (config, client_config) = get_config()?;
 
diff --git a/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/rules_cli.rs b/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/rules_cli.rs
index 2128740..7ac8cec 100644
--- a/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/rules_cli.rs
+++ b/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/rules_cli.rs
@@ -106,11 +106,13 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 mod config_cli;
 mod run_cli;
+mod validate_cli;
 
 use cull_gmail::{GmailClient, Result, Rules};
 
 use config_cli::ConfigCli;
 use run_cli::RunCli;
+use validate_cli::ValidateCli;
 
 /// Available subcommands for rules management and execution.
 ///
@@ -157,6 +159,16 @@ enum SubCmds {
     /// lifecycle management based on configured retention policies.
     #[clap(name = "run")]
     Run(RunCli),
+
+    /// Validate a rules file without executing any actions.
+    ///
+    /// Checks each rule for a non-empty label set, a valid retention period,
+    /// and a valid action. Also reports duplicate labels across rules.
+    ///
+    /// Exits 0 if all rules are valid, non-zero otherwise. Does not require
+    /// Gmail API credentials.
+    #[clap(name = "validate")]
+    Validate(ValidateCli),
 }
 
 /// Command-line interface for Gmail message retention rule management.
@@ -267,6 +279,23 @@ impl RulesCli {
         self.run_with_rules_path(client, None).await
     }
 
+    /// If the selected subcommand is `validate`, runs it and returns `Some(result)`.
+    ///
+    /// Returns `None` for all other subcommands so the caller can proceed with
+    /// normal config/client initialisation. Validate is the only subcommand that
+    /// does not require a Gmail client or application config.
+    pub fn run_if_validate(&self) -> Option<Result<()>> {
+        if let SubCmds::Validate(validate_cli) = &self.sub_command {
+            let mut rules_path: Option<&Path> = None;
+            if let Some(p) = &self.rules {
+                rules_path = Some(p.as_path());
+            }
+            Some(validate_cli.run(rules_path))
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Executes the rules command with an optional custom rules path.
     ///
     /// # Arguments
@@ -284,11 +313,18 @@ impl RulesCli {
         }
         log::info!("Rules path: {rules_path:?}");
 
+        // Validate does not need a GmailClient and must not fall back to
+        // creating default rules when the file is missing.
+        if let SubCmds::Validate(validate_cli) = &self.sub_command {
+            return validate_cli.run(rules_path);
+        }
+
         let rules = get_rules_from(rules_path)?;
 
         match &self.sub_command {
             SubCmds::Config(config_cli) => config_cli.run(rules),
             SubCmds::Run(run_cli) => run_cli.run(client, rules).await,
+            SubCmds::Validate(_) => unreachable!("handled above"),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/rules_cli/validate_cli.rs b/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/rules_cli/validate_cli.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a0a3e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/cull-gmail/src/cli/rules_cli/validate_cli.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+//! Validation subcommand for Gmail retention rules.
+//!
+//! Loads a rules file and checks each rule for correctness without
+//! executing any actions or making API calls. Exits with a non-zero
+//! status if any issues are found.
+
+use clap::Parser;
+use std::path::Path;
+
+use cull_gmail::Rules;
+
+use crate::Result;
+
+/// Validate a rules file without executing any actions.
+///
+/// Checks each rule for:
+/// - Non-empty label set
+/// - Valid retention period (e.g. `d:30`, `m:6`, `y:2`)
+/// - Valid action (`Trash` or `Delete`)
+///
+/// Also checks across rules for duplicate labels.
+///
+/// Exits 0 if all rules are valid, non-zero otherwise.
+#[derive(Debug, Parser)]
+pub struct ValidateCli {}
+
+impl ValidateCli {
+    pub fn run(&self, rules_path: Option<&Path>) -> Result<()> {
+        let rules = Rules::load_from(rules_path)?;
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+
+        if issues.is_empty() {
+            println!("Rules are valid.");
+            Ok(())
+        } else {
+            for issue in &issues {
+                eprintln!("{issue}");
+            }
+            Err(cull_gmail::Error::FileIo(format!(
+                "{} validation issue(s) found",
+                issues.len()
+            )))
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/cull-gmail/src/lib.rs b/crates/cull-gmail/src/lib.rs
index 9a86aae..6da757d 100644
--- a/crates/cull-gmail/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/cull-gmail/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ pub use client_config::ClientConfig;
 pub use gmail_client::GmailClient;
 pub(crate) use gmail_client::MessageSummary;
 pub use retention::Retention;
-pub use rules::Rules;
+pub use rules::{Rules, ValidationIssue};
 
 pub use eol_action::EolAction;
 pub use error::Error;
diff --git a/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules.rs b/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules.rs
index a9ff98a..16db3d9 100644
--- a/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules.rs
+++ b/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 use std::{
     collections::BTreeMap,
-    env,
+    env, fmt,
     fs::{self, read_to_string},
     path::Path,
 };
@@ -664,6 +664,116 @@ impl Rules {
         }
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    /// Validates all rules in the set and returns a list of issues found.
+    ///
+    /// Checks each rule for:
+    /// - Non-empty label set
+    /// - Valid retention period string (parseable as a `MessageAge`)
+    /// - Valid action string (parseable as an `EolAction`)
+    ///
+    /// Also checks across rules for duplicate labels (the same label appearing
+    /// in more than one rule).
+    ///
+    /// Returns an empty `Vec` if all rules are valid.
+    ///
+    /// # Examples
+    ///
+    /// ```
+    /// use cull_gmail::Rules;
+    ///
+    /// let rules = Rules::new();
+    /// let issues = rules.validate();
+    /// assert!(issues.is_empty(), "Default rules should all be valid");
+    /// ```
+    pub fn validate(&self) -> Vec<ValidationIssue> {
+        let mut issues = Vec::new();
+        let mut seen_labels: BTreeMap<String, usize> = BTreeMap::new();
+
+        for rule in self.rules.values() {
+            let id = rule.id();
+
+            if rule.labels().is_empty() {
+                issues.push(ValidationIssue::EmptyLabels { rule_id: id });
+            }
+
+            if MessageAge::parse(rule.retention()).is_none() {
+                issues.push(ValidationIssue::InvalidRetention {
+                    rule_id: id,
+                    retention: rule.retention().to_string(),
+                });
+            }
+
+            if rule.action().is_none() {
+                issues.push(ValidationIssue::InvalidAction {
+                    rule_id: id,
+                    action: rule.action_str().to_string(),
+                });
+            }
+
+            for label in rule.labels() {
+                if let Some(&other_id) = seen_labels.get(&label) {
+                    if other_id != id {
+                        issues.push(ValidationIssue::DuplicateLabel {
+                            label: label.clone(),
+                        });
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    seen_labels.insert(label, id);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        issues
+    }
+}
+
+/// An issue found during rules validation.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum ValidationIssue {
+    /// A rule has no labels configured.
+    EmptyLabels {
+        /// The ID of the offending rule.
+        rule_id: usize,
+    },
+    /// A rule has a retention string that cannot be parsed as a `MessageAge`.
+    InvalidRetention {
+        /// The ID of the offending rule.
+        rule_id: usize,
+        /// The unparseable retention string.
+        retention: String,
+    },
+    /// A rule has an action string that cannot be parsed as an `EolAction`.
+    InvalidAction {
+        /// The ID of the offending rule.
+        rule_id: usize,
+        /// The unparseable action string.
+        action: String,
+    },
+    /// The same label appears in more than one rule.
+    DuplicateLabel {
+        /// The duplicated label.
+        label: String,
+    },
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for ValidationIssue {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            ValidationIssue::EmptyLabels { rule_id } => {
+                write!(f, "Rule #{rule_id}: no labels configured")
+            }
+            ValidationIssue::InvalidRetention { rule_id, retention } => {
+                write!(f, "Rule #{rule_id}: invalid retention '{retention}'")
+            }
+            ValidationIssue::InvalidAction { rule_id, action } => {
+                write!(f, "Rule #{rule_id}: invalid action '{action}'")
+            }
+            ValidationIssue::DuplicateLabel { label } => {
+                write!(f, "Label '{label}' is used in multiple rules")
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -993,6 +1103,160 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.is_ok());
     }
 
+    // --- validate() tests ---
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_default_rules_are_valid() {
+        setup_test_environment();
+        let rules = Rules::new();
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+        assert!(
+            issues.is_empty(),
+            "Default rules should be valid, got: {issues:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_empty_labels_reported() {
+        setup_test_environment();
+        let toml_str = r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = "d:30"
+labels = []
+action = "Trash"
+"#;
+        let rules: Rules = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+        assert!(
+            issues
+                .iter()
+                .any(|i| matches!(i, ValidationIssue::EmptyLabels { rule_id: 1 })),
+            "Expected EmptyLabels for rule #1, got: {issues:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_invalid_retention_reported() {
+        setup_test_environment();
+        let toml_str = r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = "invalid"
+labels = ["some-label"]
+action = "Trash"
+"#;
+        let rules: Rules = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+        assert!(
+            issues
+                .iter()
+                .any(|i| matches!(i, ValidationIssue::InvalidRetention { rule_id: 1, .. })),
+            "Expected InvalidRetention for rule #1, got: {issues:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_empty_retention_reported() {
+        setup_test_environment();
+        let toml_str = r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = ""
+labels = ["some-label"]
+action = "Trash"
+"#;
+        let rules: Rules = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+        assert!(
+            issues
+                .iter()
+                .any(|i| matches!(i, ValidationIssue::InvalidRetention { rule_id: 1, .. })),
+            "Expected InvalidRetention for empty retention in rule #1, got: {issues:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_invalid_action_reported() {
+        setup_test_environment();
+        let toml_str = r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = "d:30"
+labels = ["some-label"]
+action = "invalid-action"
+"#;
+        let rules: Rules = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+        assert!(
+            issues
+                .iter()
+                .any(|i| matches!(i, ValidationIssue::InvalidAction { rule_id: 1, .. })),
+            "Expected InvalidAction for rule #1, got: {issues:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_duplicate_label_reported() {
+        setup_test_environment();
+        let toml_str = r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = "d:30"
+labels = ["shared-label"]
+action = "Trash"
+
+[rules."2"]
+id = 2
+retention = "d:60"
+labels = ["shared-label"]
+action = "Trash"
+"#;
+        let rules: Rules = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+        assert!(
+            issues.iter().any(|i| matches!(
+                i,
+                ValidationIssue::DuplicateLabel { label }
+                if label == "shared-label"
+            )),
+            "Expected DuplicateLabel for 'shared-label', got: {issues:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_validate_multiple_issues_collected() {
+        setup_test_environment();
+        let toml_str = r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = ""
+labels = []
+action = "bad"
+"#;
+        let rules: Rules = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
+        let issues = rules.validate();
+        // All three issues should be present for the one rule
+        assert!(
+            issues
+                .iter()
+                .any(|i| matches!(i, ValidationIssue::EmptyLabels { .. })),
+            "Expected EmptyLabels"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            issues
+                .iter()
+                .any(|i| matches!(i, ValidationIssue::InvalidRetention { .. })),
+            "Expected InvalidRetention"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            issues
+                .iter()
+                .any(|i| matches!(i, ValidationIssue::InvalidAction { .. })),
+            "Expected InvalidAction"
+        );
+    }
+
     // Integration tests for save/load would require file system setup
     // These are marked as ignore to avoid interference with actual config files
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules/eol_rule.rs b/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules/eol_rule.rs
index d87af90..24be5da 100644
--- a/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules/eol_rule.rs
+++ b/crates/cull-gmail/src/rules/eol_rule.rs
@@ -290,6 +290,11 @@ impl EolRule {
         EolAction::parse(&self.action)
     }
 
+    /// Returns the raw action string as stored in the rule.
+    pub(crate) fn action_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.action
+    }
+
     /// Returns a human-readable description of what this rule does.
     ///
     /// The description includes the rule ID, the action that will be performed,
diff --git a/crates/cull-gmail/tests/cli_integration_tests.rs b/crates/cull-gmail/tests/cli_integration_tests.rs
index dbbfa87..b20531d 100644
--- a/crates/cull-gmail/tests/cli_integration_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/cull-gmail/tests/cli_integration_tests.rs
@@ -874,3 +874,127 @@ mod async_integration_tests {
         }
     }
 }
+
+// --- rules validate tests ---
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod rules_validate_tests {
+    use super::test_utils::CliTestFixture;
+    use std::fs;
+
+    fn valid_rules_toml() -> &'static str {
+        r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = "d:30"
+labels = ["test-label"]
+action = "Trash"
+"#
+    }
+
+    fn invalid_rules_toml() -> &'static str {
+        r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = ""
+labels = []
+action = "bad-action"
+"#
+    }
+
+    fn duplicate_label_rules_toml() -> &'static str {
+        r#"
+[rules."1"]
+id = 1
+retention = "d:30"
+labels = ["shared"]
+action = "Trash"
+
+[rules."2"]
+id = 2
+retention = "d:60"
+labels = ["shared"]
+action = "Trash"
+"#
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_rules_validate_valid_file_exits_zero() {
+        let fixture = CliTestFixture::new().expect("Failed to create test fixture");
+        let rules_file = fixture.temp_dir.path().join("rules.toml");
+        fs::write(&rules_file, valid_rules_toml()).unwrap();
+
+        let output = fixture
+            .execute_cli(&["rules", rules_file.to_str().unwrap(), "validate"], None)
+            .expect("Failed to execute CLI");
+
+        assert!(
+            output.status.success(),
+            "Expected exit 0 for valid rules, got: {}\nstdout: {}\nstderr: {}",
+            output.status,
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout),
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr),
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_rules_validate_invalid_file_exits_nonzero() {
+        let fixture = CliTestFixture::new().expect("Failed to create test fixture");
+        let rules_file = fixture.temp_dir.path().join("rules.toml");
+        fs::write(&rules_file, invalid_rules_toml()).unwrap();
+
+        let output = fixture
+            .execute_cli(&["rules", rules_file.to_str().unwrap(), "validate"], None)
+            .expect("Failed to execute CLI");
+
+        assert!(
+            !output.status.success(),
+            "Expected non-zero exit for invalid rules"
+        );
+        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+        let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout);
+        let combined = format!("{stdout}{stderr}");
+        assert!(
+            combined.contains("Rule #1"),
+            "Expected issue output mentioning rule #1, got: {combined}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_rules_validate_duplicate_label_exits_nonzero() {
+        let fixture = CliTestFixture::new().expect("Failed to create test fixture");
+        let rules_file = fixture.temp_dir.path().join("rules.toml");
+        fs::write(&rules_file, duplicate_label_rules_toml()).unwrap();
+
+        let output = fixture
+            .execute_cli(&["rules", rules_file.to_str().unwrap(), "validate"], None)
+            .expect("Failed to execute CLI");
+
+        assert!(
+            !output.status.success(),
+            "Expected non-zero exit for duplicate label rules"
+        );
+        let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout);
+        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+        let combined = format!("{stdout}{stderr}");
+        assert!(
+            combined.contains("shared"),
+            "Expected output mentioning 'shared' label, got: {combined}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_rules_validate_missing_file_exits_nonzero() {
+        let fixture = CliTestFixture::new().expect("Failed to create test fixture");
+        let rules_file = fixture.temp_dir.path().join("nonexistent.toml");
+
+        let output = fixture
+            .execute_cli(&["rules", rules_file.to_str().unwrap(), "validate"], None)
+            .expect("Failed to execute CLI");
+
+        assert!(
+            !output.status.success(),
+            "Expected non-zero exit for missing rules file"
+        );
+    }
+}