diff --git a/graphql/backend/core.py b/graphql/backend/core.py
index e8fc3099..1246da8b 100644
--- a/graphql/backend/core.py
+++ b/graphql/backend/core.py
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@
 from ..execution import execute, ExecutionResult
 from ..language.base import parse, print_ast
 from ..language import ast
-from ..validation import validate
+from ..validation import validate, specified_rules
 from .base import GraphQLBackend, GraphQLDocument
 
 # Necessary for static type checking
 if False:  # flake8: noqa
-    from typing import Any, Optional, Union
+    from typing import Any, Optional, Union, List, Type
+    from ..validation.rules import ValidationRule
     from ..language.ast import Document
     from ..type.schema import GraphQLSchema
     from rx import Observable
@@ -24,8 +25,9 @@ def execute_and_validate(
 ):
     # type: (...) -> Union[ExecutionResult, Observable]
     do_validation = kwargs.get("validate", True)
+    validation_rules = kwargs.get("validation_rules", specified_rules)
     if do_validation:
-        validation_errors = validate(schema, document_ast)
+        validation_errors = validate(schema, document_ast, validation_rules)
         if validation_errors:
             return ExecutionResult(errors=validation_errors, invalid=True)
 
@@ -38,7 +40,14 @@ class GraphQLCoreBackend(GraphQLBackend):
 
     def __init__(self, executor=None):
         # type: (Optional[Any]) -> None
-        self.execute_params = {"executor": executor}
+        self.execute_params = {
+            "executor": executor,
+            "validation_rules": self.get_validation_rules(),
+        }
+
+    def get_validation_rules(self):
+        # type: () -> List[Type[ValidationRule]]
+        return specified_rules
 
     def document_from_string(self, schema, document_string):
         # type: (GraphQLSchema, Union[Document, str]) -> GraphQLDocument
diff --git a/graphql/backend/tests/test_core.py b/graphql/backend/tests/test_core.py
index 257eb64b..39fb641c 100644
--- a/graphql/backend/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/graphql/backend/tests/test_core.py
@@ -3,14 +3,19 @@
 """Tests for `graphql.backend.core` module."""
 
 import pytest
+
+from graphql import GraphQLError
 from graphql.execution.executors.sync import SyncExecutor
+from graphql.validation.rules.base import ValidationRule
 
 from ..base import GraphQLBackend, GraphQLDocument
 from ..core import GraphQLCoreBackend
 from .schema import schema
 
 if False:
-    from typing import Any
+    from pytest_mock import MockFixture
+    from typing import Any, List, Optional, Type
+    from graphql.language.ast import Document
 
 
 def test_core_backend():
@@ -52,3 +57,42 @@ def test_backend_can_execute_custom_executor():
     assert not result.errors
     assert result.data == {"hello": "World"}
     assert executor.executed
+
+
+class AlwaysFailValidator(ValidationRule):
+    # noinspection PyPep8Naming
+    def enter_Document(self, node, key, parent, path, ancestors):
+        # type: (Document, Optional[Any], Optional[Any], List, List) -> None
+        self.context.report_error(GraphQLError("Test validator failure", [node]))
+
+
+class CustomValidatorBackend(GraphQLCoreBackend):
+    def get_validation_rules(self):
+        # type: () -> List[Type[ValidationRule]]
+        return [AlwaysFailValidator]
+
+
+def test_backend_custom_validators_result():
+    # type: () -> None
+    backend = CustomValidatorBackend()
+    assert isinstance(backend, CustomValidatorBackend)
+    document = backend.document_from_string(schema, "{ hello }")
+    assert isinstance(document, GraphQLDocument)
+    result = document.execute()
+    assert result.errors
+    assert len(result.errors) == 1
+    assert result.errors[0].message == "Test validator failure"
+
+
+def test_backend_custom_validators_in_validation_args(mocker):
+    # type: (MockFixture) -> None
+    mocked_validate = mocker.patch("graphql.backend.core.validate")
+    backend = CustomValidatorBackend()
+    assert isinstance(backend, CustomValidatorBackend)
+    document = backend.document_from_string(schema, "{ hello }")
+    assert isinstance(document, GraphQLDocument)
+    mocked_validate.assert_not_called()
+    result = document.execute()
+    mocked_validate.assert_called_once()
+    (args, kwargs) = mocked_validate.call_args
+    assert [AlwaysFailValidator] in args