diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/option_verifier.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/option_verifier.rb
index 7aa641093..ecf7818b1 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/option_verifier.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matchers/option_verifier.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ module AssociationMatchers
         class OptionVerifier
           delegate :reflection, to: :reflector
 
+          DEFAULT_VALUE_OF_OPTIONS = {
+            has_many: {
+              validate: true,
+            },
+          }.freeze
           RELATION_OPTIONS = [:conditions, :order].freeze
 
           def initialize(reflector)
@@ -55,7 +60,7 @@ def actual_value_for(name)
               if respond_to?(method_name, true)
                 __send__(method_name)
               else
-                reflection.options[name]
+                actual_value_for_option(name)
               end
             end
           end
@@ -116,6 +121,16 @@ def actual_value_for_relation_clause(name)
           def actual_value_for_class_name
             reflector.associated_class
           end
+
+          def actual_value_for_option(name)
+            option_value = reflection.options[name]
+
+            if option_value.nil?
+              DEFAULT_VALUE_OF_OPTIONS.dig(reflection.macro, name)
+            else
+              option_value
+            end
+          end
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb b/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb
index 5fe336a70..920dcd32b 100644
--- a/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_record/association_matcher_spec.rb
@@ -1177,20 +1177,40 @@ def belonging_to_non_existent_class(model_name, assoc_name, options = {})
     end
 
     context 'validate' do
-      it 'accepts when the :validate option matches' do
+      it 'accepts validate(false) when the :validate option is false' do
         expect(having_many_children(validate: false)).to have_many(:children).validate(false)
       end
 
-      it 'rejects when the :validate option does not match' do
+      it 'accepts validate(true) when the :validate option is true' do
+        expect(having_many_children(validate: true)).to have_many(:children).validate(true)
+      end
+
+      it 'rejects validate(false) when the :validate option is true' do
         expect(having_many_children(validate: true)).not_to have_many(:children).validate(false)
       end
 
+      it 'rejects validate(true) when the :validate option is false' do
+        expect(having_many_children(validate: false)).not_to have_many(:children).validate(true)
+      end
+
       it 'assumes validate() means validate(true)' do
+        expect(having_many_children(validate: true)).to have_many(:children).validate
+      end
+
+      it 'rejects validate() when :validate option is false' do
         expect(having_many_children(validate: false)).not_to have_many(:children).validate
       end
 
-      it 'matches validate(false) to having no validate option specified' do
-        expect(having_many_children).to have_many(:children).validate(false)
+      it 'rejects validate(false) when no :validate option was specified' do
+        expect(having_many_children).not_to have_many(:children).validate(false)
+      end
+
+      it 'accepts validate(true) when no :validate option was specified' do
+        expect(having_many_children).to have_many(:children).validate(true)
+      end
+
+      it 'accepts validate() when no :validate option was specified' do
+        expect(having_many_children).to have_many(:children).validate
       end
     end