diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 70a577004..a7590b93d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Here's to a thrilling Hacktoberfest voyage with us! 🎉
 # Decentralized Web Node (DWN) SDK <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 Code Coverage
-![Statements](https://img.shields.io/badge/statements-97.77%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat) ![Branches](https://img.shields.io/badge/branches-95.03%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat) ![Functions](https://img.shields.io/badge/functions-94.26%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat) ![Lines](https://img.shields.io/badge/lines-97.77%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat)
+![Statements](https://img.shields.io/badge/statements-97.78%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat) ![Branches](https://img.shields.io/badge/branches-95.05%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat) ![Functions](https://img.shields.io/badge/functions-94.26%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat) ![Lines](https://img.shields.io/badge/lines-97.78%25-brightgreen.svg?style=flat)
 
 - [Introduction](#introduction)
 - [Installation](#installation)
diff --git a/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocol-rule-set.json b/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocol-rule-set.json
index 343439dc7..791abf704 100644
--- a/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocol-rule-set.json
+++ b/json-schemas/interface-methods/protocol-rule-set.json
@@ -32,29 +32,7 @@
               "who": {
                 "type": "string",
                 "enum": [
-                  "anyone"
-                ]
-              },
-              "can": {
-                "type": "string",
-                "enum": [
-                  "read",
-                  "write"
-                ]
-              }
-            }
-          },
-          {
-            "required": [
-              "who",
-              "of",
-              "can"
-            ],
-            "additionalProperties": false,
-            "properties": {
-              "who": {
-                "type": "string",
-                "enum": [
+                  "anyone",
                   "author",
                   "recipient"
                 ]
diff --git a/src/core/dwn-error.ts b/src/core/dwn-error.ts
index 73e25a66a..07e80043f 100644
--- a/src/core/dwn-error.ts
+++ b/src/core/dwn-error.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ export enum DwnErrorCode {
   ProtocolAuthorizationNotARole = 'ProtocolAuthorizationNotARole',
   ProtocolsConfigureGlobalRoleAtProhibitedProtocolPath = 'ProtocolsConfigureGlobalRoleAtProhibitedProtocolPath',
   ProtocolsConfigureInvalidRole = 'ProtocolsConfigureInvalidRole',
+  ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionMissingOf = 'ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionMissingOf',
+  ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionOfNotAllowed = 'ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionOfNotAllowed',
   ProtocolsConfigureUnauthorized = 'ProtocolsConfigureUnauthorized',
   ProtocolsQueryUnauthorized = 'ProtocolsQueryUnauthorized',
   RecordsDecryptNoMatchingKeyEncryptedFound = 'RecordsDecryptNoMatchingKeyEncryptedFound',
diff --git a/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts b/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts
index 96d7657b0..2615ee7cc 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/protocols-configure.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ import { DwnInterfaceName, DwnMethodName, Message } from '../core/message.js';
 import { normalizeProtocolUrl, normalizeSchemaUrl, validateProtocolUrlNormalized, validateSchemaUrlNormalized } from '../utils/url.js';
 
 export type ProtocolsConfigureOptions = {
-  messageTimestamp? : string;
-  definition : ProtocolDefinition;
+  messageTimestamp?: string;
+  definition: ProtocolDefinition;
   authorizationSigner: Signer;
   permissionsGrantId?: string;
 };
@@ -92,15 +92,32 @@ export class ProtocolsConfigure extends Message<ProtocolsConfigureMessage> {
       );
     }
 
-    // Validate that all `role` properties contain protocol paths $globalRole records
+    // Validate $actions in the ruleset
     const actions = ruleSet.$actions ?? [];
     for (const action of actions) {
+      // Validate that all `role` properties contain protocol paths $globalRole records
       if (action.role !== undefined && !globalRoles.includes(action.role)) {
         throw new DwnError(
           DwnErrorCode.ProtocolsConfigureInvalidRole,
           `Invalid role '${action.role}' found at protocol path '${protocolPath}'`
         );
       }
+
+      // Validate that if `who` is set to `anyone` then `of` is not set
+      if (action.who === 'anyone' && action.of) {
+        throw new DwnError(
+          DwnErrorCode.ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionOfNotAllowed,
+          `'of' is not allowed at protocol path (${protocolPath})`
+        );
+      }
+
+      // Validate that if `who` is not set to `anyone` then `of` is set
+      if (action.who !== undefined && ['author', 'recipient'].includes(action.who) && !action.of) {
+        throw new DwnError(
+          DwnErrorCode.ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionMissingOf,
+          `'of' is required at protocol path (${protocolPath})`
+        );
+      }
     }
 
     // Validate nested rule sets
diff --git a/tests/interfaces/protocols-configure.spec.ts b/tests/interfaces/protocols-configure.spec.ts
index 17f2bc0b7..84b2df01c 100644
--- a/tests/interfaces/protocols-configure.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/interfaces/protocols-configure.spec.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,65 @@ describe('ProtocolsConfigure', () => {
         await expect(createProtocolsConfigurePromise)
           .to.be.rejectedWith(DwnErrorCode.ProtocolsConfigureInvalidRole);
       });
+
+      it('rejects protocol definitions with actions that contain `of` and  `who` is `anyone`', async () => {
+        const definition = {
+          published : true,
+          protocol  : 'http://example.com',
+          types     : {
+            message: {},
+          },
+          structure: {
+            message: {
+              $actions: [{
+                who : 'anyone',
+                of  : 'message', // Not allowed
+                can : 'read'
+              }]
+            }
+          }
+        };
+
+        const alice = await TestDataGenerator.generatePersona();
+
+        const createProtocolsConfigurePromise = ProtocolsConfigure.create({
+          authorizationSigner: Jws.createSigner(alice),
+          definition
+        });
+
+        await expect(createProtocolsConfigurePromise)
+          .to.be.rejectedWith(DwnErrorCode.ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionOfNotAllowed);
+      });
+
+      it('rejects protocol definitions with actions that don\'t contain `of` and  `who` is `author` or `recipient`', async () => {
+        const definition = {
+          published : true,
+          protocol  : 'http://example.com',
+          types     : {
+            message: {},
+          },
+          structure: {
+            message: {
+              $actions: [{
+                who : 'author',
+                // of : 'message', // Intentionally missing
+                can : 'read'
+              }]
+            }
+          }
+        };
+
+        const alice = await TestDataGenerator.generatePersona();
+
+        const createProtocolsConfigurePromise = ProtocolsConfigure.create({
+          authorizationSigner: Jws.createSigner(alice),
+          definition
+        });
+
+        await expect(createProtocolsConfigurePromise)
+          .to.be.rejectedWith(DwnErrorCode.ProtocolsConfigureInvalidActionMissingOf);
+      });
+
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/tests/validation/json-schemas/protocols/protocols-configure.spec.ts b/tests/validation/json-schemas/protocols/protocols-configure.spec.ts
index f822dd2c5..c13baf493 100644
--- a/tests/validation/json-schemas/protocols/protocols-configure.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/validation/json-schemas/protocols/protocols-configure.spec.ts
@@ -67,33 +67,5 @@ describe('ProtocolsConfigure schema definition', () => {
         }).throws('/$actions/0');
       }
     });
-
-    it('#183 - should throw if required `of` is missing in rule-set', async () => {
-      const invalidRuleSet = {
-        $actions: [{
-          who : 'author',
-          // of: 'thread', // intentionally missing
-          can : 'read'
-        }]
-      };
-
-      expect(() => {
-        validateJsonSchema('ProtocolRuleSet', invalidRuleSet);
-      }).throws('/$actions/0');
-    });
-
-    it('#183 - should throw if `of` is present in `anyone` rule-set', async () => {
-      const invalidRuleSet = {
-        $actions: [{
-          who : 'anyone',
-          of  : 'thread', // intentionally present
-          can : 'read'
-        }]
-      };
-
-      expect(() => {
-        validateJsonSchema('ProtocolRuleSet', invalidRuleSet);
-      }).throws('/$actions/0');
-    });
   });
 });