diff --git a/python/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.sip b/python/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.sip
index e9eec9be7b1..7c654b65c2c 100644
--- a/python/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.sip
+++ b/python/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.sip
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ Tree model for the rules:
 #include "qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.h"
 %End
   public:
-    QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( QgsRuleBasedRenderer *r );
+
+    QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( QgsRuleBasedRenderer *renderer, QObject *parent );
+%Docstring
+ Constructor for QgsRuleBasedRendererModel, for the specified ``renderer``.
+%End
 
     virtual Qt::ItemFlags flags( const QModelIndex &index ) const;
     virtual QVariant data( const QModelIndex &index, int role = Qt::DisplayRole ) const;
diff --git a/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp b/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp
index 7e2bd43aed8..b10b233f1b9 100644
--- a/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ QgsRuleBasedRendererWidget::QgsRuleBasedRendererWidget( QgsVectorLayer *layer, Q
   setupUi( this );
   this->layout()->setContentsMargins( 0, 0, 0, 0 );
 
-  mModel = new QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( mRenderer );
+  mModel = new QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( mRenderer, viewRules );
 #ifdef ENABLE_MODELTEST
   new ModelTest( mModel, this ); // for model validity checking
 #endif
@@ -799,8 +799,9 @@ void QgsRendererRulePropsWidget::setDockMode( bool dockMode )
 
 /////
 
-QgsRuleBasedRendererModel::QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( QgsRuleBasedRenderer *r )
-  : mR( r )
+QgsRuleBasedRendererModel::QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( QgsRuleBasedRenderer *renderer, QObject *parent )
+  : QAbstractItemModel( parent )
+  , mR( renderer )
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.h b/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.h
index 2b95950aa85..13a5f2ec8c2 100644
--- a/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.h
+++ b/src/gui/symbology/qgsrulebasedrendererwidget.h
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsRuleBasedRendererModel : public QAbstractItemModel
     Q_OBJECT
 
   public:
-    QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( QgsRuleBasedRenderer *r );
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor for QgsRuleBasedRendererModel, for the specified \a renderer.
+     */
+    QgsRuleBasedRendererModel( QgsRuleBasedRenderer *renderer, QObject *parent );
 
     virtual Qt::ItemFlags flags( const QModelIndex &index ) const override;
     virtual QVariant data( const QModelIndex &index, int role = Qt::DisplayRole ) const override;