diff --git a/rule/url.go b/rule/url.go
index 592ea20..ef8ec8e 100644
--- a/rule/url.go
+++ b/rule/url.go
@@ -13,7 +13,13 @@ func URL(ctx context.Context, v string) error {
 		v = v[:i]
 	}
 
-	if value, err := url.ParseRequestURI(v); err != nil || value.Scheme == "" {
+	value, err := url.ParseRequestURI(v)
+	if err != nil || value.Scheme == "" {
+		return NewError(NameURL)
+	}
+
+	// http(s) URLs without a host are not usable destinations (e.g. "http://", "https:")
+	if (value.Scheme == "http" || value.Scheme == "https") && value.Host == "" {
 		return NewError(NameURL)
 	}
 
diff --git a/rule/url_test.go b/rule/url_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e453d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rule/url_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package rule_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/foomo/fender/rule"
+)
+
+func TestURLRequiresHostForHTTP(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	cases := map[string]bool{
+		"http://example.com":  true,
+		"https://example.com": true,
+		"http://example.com/": true,
+		"ftp://example.com":   true,
+		"http://":             false,
+		"https:":              false,
+		"http:///":            false,
+		"":                    false,
+	}
+
+	for input, wantOK := range cases {
+		err := rule.URL(context.Background(), input)
+		gotOK := err == nil
+		if gotOK != wantOK {
+			t.Errorf("URL(%q) ok=%v want %v (err=%v)", input, gotOK, wantOK, err)
+		}
+	}
+}