diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 179ab17..d5df3f8 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -22,12 +22,14 @@ type Config struct {
 
 // Application is used to manage the haproxy configuration and waf rules.
 type Application struct {
-	LogLevel                   string `yaml:"log_level"`
-	LogFile                    string `yaml:"log_file"`
-	NoResponseCheck            bool   `yaml:"no_response_check"`
-	Directives                 string `yaml:"directives"`
-	TransactionTTLMilliseconds int    `yaml:"transaction_ttl_ms"`
-	TransactionActiveLimit     int    `yaml:"transaction_active_limit"`
+	LogLevel        string `yaml:"log_level"`
+	LogFile         string `yaml:"log_file"`
+	NoResponseCheck bool   `yaml:"no_response_check"`
+	Directives      string `yaml:"directives"`
+	// Deprecated: use directives instead, this will be removed in the near future.
+	Rules                      []string `yaml:"rules"`
+	TransactionTTLMilliseconds int      `yaml:"transaction_ttl_ms"`
+	TransactionActiveLimit     int      `yaml:"transaction_active_limit"`
 }
 
 // InitConfig initializes the configuration.
diff --git a/internal/spoa.go b/internal/spoa.go
index 7386e82..1e02bd8 100644
--- a/internal/spoa.go
+++ b/internal/spoa.go
@@ -188,6 +188,11 @@ func New(conf *config.Config) (*SPOA, error) {
 			WithDirectives(cfg.Directives).
 			WithErrorCallback(logError(logger))
 
+		if len(cfg.Rules) > 0 {
+			// Deprecated: this will soon be removed
+			conf = conf.WithDirectives(strings.Join(cfg.Rules, "\n"))
+		}
+
 		waf, err := coraza.NewWAF(conf)
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Error("unable to create waf instance", zap.String("app", name), zap.Error(err))