diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Style.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Style.js
index 8ce9949d16..d7bcaf214f 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Style.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Style.js
@@ -85,21 +85,29 @@ OpenLayers.Style = OpenLayers.Class({
      *                used as default style for this style object. This style
      *                applies if no rules are specified. Symbolizers defined in
      *                rules will extend this default style.
-     * options      - {Object} An optional object with properties to set on the
-     *                userStyle
+     * options - {Object} An optional object with properties to set on the
+     *     style.
+     *
+     * Valid options:
+     * rules - {Array(<OpenLayers.Rule>)} List of rules to be added to the
+     *     style.
      * 
      * Return:
      * {<OpenLayers.Style>}
      */
     initialize: function(style, options) {
+
+        OpenLayers.Util.extend(this, options);
         this.rules = [];
+        if(options && options.rules) {
+            this.addRules(options.rules);
+        }
 
         // use the default style from OpenLayers.Feature.Vector if no style
         // was given in the constructor
-        this.setDefaultStyle(style || 
-                OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.style["default"]);
-        
-        OpenLayers.Util.extend(this, options);
+        this.setDefaultStyle(style ||
+                             OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.style["default"]);
+
     },
 
     /** 
diff --git a/tests/Style.html b/tests/Style.html
index cce714e1c1..9423b78a9b 100644
--- a/tests/Style.html
+++ b/tests/Style.html
@@ -4,13 +4,36 @@
     <script type="text/javascript">
 
     function test_Style_constructor(t) { 
-        t.plan(3); 
+        t.plan(6); 
          
-        var options = {'foo': 'bar'}; 
-        var style = new OpenLayers.Style(null, options); 
+        var rules = [
+            new OpenLayers.Rule({
+                symbolizer: {fillColor: "red"},
+                filter: new OpenLayers.Filter.Comparison({
+                    type: OpenLayers.Filter.Comparison.EQUAL_TO,
+                    property: "type",
+                    value: "fire engine"
+                })
+            }),
+            new OpenLayers.Rule({
+                symbolizer: {fillColor: "yellow"},
+                filter: new OpenLayers.Filter.Comparison({
+                    type: OpenLayers.Filter.Comparison.EQUAL_TO,
+                    property: "type",
+                    value: "sports car"
+                })
+            })
+        ];
+        var style = new OpenLayers.Style(null, {
+            foo: "bar",
+            rules: rules
+        }); 
         t.ok(style instanceof OpenLayers.Style, 
              "new OpenLayers.Style returns object" ); 
-        t.eq(style.foo, "bar", "constructor sets options correctly"); 
+        t.eq(style.foo, "bar", "constructor sets options correctly");
+        t.eq(style.rules.length, 2, "correct number of rules added");
+        t.ok(style.rules[0] === rules[0], "correct first rule added");
+        t.ok(style.rules[1] === rules[1], "correct second rule added");
         t.eq(typeof style.createSymbolizer, "function", "style has a createSymbolizer function"); 
     }