diff --git a/ipalib/public.py b/ipalib/public.py
index baae83e42..9467feaff 100644
--- a/ipalib/public.py
+++ b/ipalib/public.py
@@ -58,17 +58,24 @@ class opt(plugable.ReadOnly):
 
 	def __get_rules(self):
 		if self.__rules is None:
-			self.__rules = tuple(self.__rules_iter())
+			rules = sorted(
+				self.__rules_iter(),
+				key=lambda f: getattr(f, '__name__'),
+			)
+			object.__setattr__(self, '_opt__rules', tuple(rules))
 		return self.__rules
 	rules = property(__get_rules)
 
 	def __rules_iter(self):
-		for name in dir(self):
+		for name in dir(self.__class__):
 			if name.startswith('_'):
 				continue
-			attr = getattr(self, name)
-			if is_rule(attr):
-				yield attr
+			base_attr = getattr(self.__class__, name)
+			if is_rule(base_attr):
+				attr = getattr(self, name)
+				if is_rule(attr):
+					yield attr
+
 
 	def validate(self, value):
 		pass
@@ -77,7 +84,6 @@ class opt(plugable.ReadOnly):
 
 
 
-
 class cmd(plugable.Plugin):
 	__public__ = frozenset((
 		'normalize',
diff --git a/ipalib/tests/test_public.py b/ipalib/tests/test_public.py
index ef2ded171..87d6d1042 100644
--- a/ipalib/tests/test_public.py
+++ b/ipalib/tests/test_public.py
@@ -68,10 +68,36 @@ class test_opt():
 		return public.opt
 
 	def sub(self):
+		rule = public.rule
 		class int_opt(self.cls()):
 			type = int
+			@rule
+			def rule_a(self, value):
+				if value == 'a':
+					return 'cannot be a'
+			@rule
+			def rule_b(self, value):
+				if value == 'b':
+					return 'cannot be b'
+			@rule
+			def rule_c(self, value):
+				if value == 'c':
+					return 'cannot be c'
 		return int_opt
 
+	def test_rules(self):
+		"""
+		Test the rules property.
+		"""
+		i = self.sub()()
+		def i_attr(l):
+			return getattr(i, 'rule_%s' % l)
+		letters = ('a', 'b', 'c')
+		rules = tuple(i_attr(l) for l in letters)
+		assert i.rules == rules
+
+
+
 	def test_class(self):
 		cls = self.cls()
 		assert issubclass(cls, plugable.ReadOnly)