diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 413b06cd7..a4e852f02 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -449,10 +449,10 @@ List of all available rules. The rules ported from `golint` are left unchanged a
 | [`range`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#range)               |  n/a   | Prevents redundant variables when iterating over a collection.   |   yes    |  no   |
 | [`receiver-naming`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#receiver-naming)     |  n/a   | Conventions around the naming of receivers.                      |   yes    |  no   |
 | [`indent-error-flow`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#indent-error-flow)   |  n/a   | Prevents redundant else statements.                              |   yes    |  no   |
-| [`argument-limit`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#argument-limit)      |  int   | Specifies the maximum number of arguments a function can receive |    no    |  no   |
-| [`cyclomatic`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#cyclomatic)          |  int   | Sets restriction for maximum Cyclomatic complexity.              |    no    |  no   |
-| [`max-public-structs`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#max-public-structs)  |  int   | The maximum number of public structs in a file.                  |    no    |  no   |
-| [`file-header`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#file-header)         | string | Header which each file should have.                              |    no    |  no   |
+| [`argument-limit`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#argument-limit)      |  int (defaults to 8)  | Specifies the maximum number of arguments a function can receive |    no    |  no   |
+| [`cyclomatic`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#cyclomatic)          |  int (defaults to 10)   | Sets restriction for maximum Cyclomatic complexity.              |    no    |  no   |
+| [`max-public-structs`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#max-public-structs)  |  int (defaults to 5)  | The maximum number of public structs in a file.                  |    no    |  no   |
+| [`file-header`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#file-header)         | string (defaults to none)| Header which each file should have.                              |    no    |  no   |
 | [`empty-block`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#empty-block)         |  n/a   | Warns on empty code blocks                                       |    no    |  yes   |
 | [`superfluous-else`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#superfluous-else)    |  n/a   | Prevents redundant else statements (extends [`indent-error-flow`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#indent-error-flow)) |    no    |  no   |
 | [`confusing-naming`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#confusing-naming)    |  n/a   | Warns on methods with names that differ only by capitalization   |    no    |  no   |
@@ -465,26 +465,26 @@ List of all available rules. The rules ported from `golint` are left unchanged a
 | [`add-constant`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#add-constant)        |  map   | Suggests using constant for magic numbers and string literals    |    no    |  no   |
 | [`flag-parameter`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#flag-parameter)      |  n/a   | Warns on boolean parameters that create a control coupling       |    no    |  no   |
 | [`unnecessary-stmt`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#unnecessary-stmt)    |  n/a   | Suggests removing or simplifying unnecessary statements          |    no    |  no   |
-| [`struct-tag`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#struct-tag)          |  []string   | Checks common struct tags like `json`,`xml`,`yaml`               |    no    |  no   |
+| [`struct-tag`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#struct-tag)          |  []string   | Checks common struct tags like `json`, `xml`, `yaml`               |    no    |  no   |
 | [`modifies-value-receiver`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#modifies-value-receiver) |  n/a   | Warns on assignments to value-passed method receivers        |    no    |  yes  |
 | [`constant-logical-expr`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#constant-logical-expr)   |  n/a   | Warns on constant logical expressions                        |    no    |  no   |
 | [`bool-literal-in-expr`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#bool-literal-in-expr)|  n/a   | Suggests removing Boolean literals from logic expressions        |    no    |  no   |
 | [`redefines-builtin-id`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#redefines-builtin-id)|  n/a   | Warns on redefinitions of builtin identifiers                    |    no    |  no   |
-| [`function-result-limit`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#function-result-limit) |  int | Specifies the maximum number of results a function can return    |    no    |  no   |
+| [`function-result-limit`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#function-result-limit) |  int (defaults to 3)| Specifies the maximum number of results a function can return    |    no    |  no   |
 | [`imports-blacklist`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#imports-blacklist)   | []string | Disallows importing the specified packages                     |    no    |  no   |
 | [`range-val-in-closure`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#range-val-in-closure)|  n/a   | Warns if range value is used in a closure dispatched as goroutine|    no    |  no   |
 | [`range-val-address`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#range-val-address)|  n/a   | Warns if address of range value is used dangerously |    no    |  yes   |
 | [`waitgroup-by-value`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#waitgroup-by-value)  |  n/a   | Warns on functions taking sync.WaitGroup as a by-value parameter |    no    |  no   |
 | [`atomic`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#atomic)              |  n/a   | Check for common mistaken usages of the `sync/atomic` package    |    no    |  no   |
 | [`empty-lines`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#empty-lines)   | n/a | Warns when there are heading or trailing newlines in a block              |    no    |  no   |
-| [`line-length-limit`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#line-length-limit)   | int    | Specifies the maximum number of characters in a line             |    no    |  no   |
+| [`line-length-limit`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#line-length-limit)   | int (defaults to 80) | Specifies the maximum number of characters in a line             |    no    |  no   |
 | [`call-to-gc`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#call-to-gc)   | n/a    | Warns on explicit call to the garbage collector    |    no    |  no   |
 | [`duplicated-imports`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#duplicated-imports) | n/a  | Looks for packages that are imported two or more times   |    no    |  no   |
 | [`import-shadowing`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#import-shadowing)   | n/a    | Spots identifiers that shadow an import    |    no    |  no   |
 | [`bare-return`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#bare-return) | n/a  | Warns on bare returns   |    no    |  no   |
 | [`unused-receiver`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#unused-receiver)   | n/a    | Suggests to rename or remove unused method receivers    |    no    |  no   |
 | [`unhandled-error`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#unhandled-error)   | []string   | Warns on unhandled errors returned by function calls    |    no    |  yes   |
-| [`cognitive-complexity`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#cognitive-complexity)          |  int   | Sets restriction for maximum Cognitive complexity.              |    no    |  no   |
+| [`cognitive-complexity`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#cognitive-complexity)          |  int (defaults to 7) | Sets restriction for maximum Cognitive complexity.              |    no    |  no   |
 | [`string-of-int`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#string-of-int)          |  n/a   | Warns on suspicious casts from int to string            |    no    |  yes   |
 | [`string-format`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#string-format)          |  map   | Warns on specific string literals that fail one or more user-configured regular expressions            |    no    |  no   |
 | [`early-return`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#early-return)          |  n/a   | Spots if-then-else statements where the predicate may be inverted to reduce nesting |    no    |  no   |
@@ -492,10 +492,10 @@ List of all available rules. The rules ported from `golint` are left unchanged a
 | [`identical-branches`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#identical-branches)          |  n/a   | Spots if-then-else statements with identical `then` and `else` branches       |    no    |  no   |
 | [`defer`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#defer)          |  map   |  Warns on some [defer gotchas](https://blog.learngoprogramming.com/5-gotchas-of-defer-in-go-golang-part-iii-36a1ab3d6ef1)       |    no    |  no   |
 | [`unexported-naming`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#unexported-naming)          |  n/a   |  Warns on wrongly named un-exported symbols       |    no    |  no   |
-| [`function-length`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#function-length)          |  n/a   |  Warns on functions exceeding the statements or lines max |    no    |  no   |
+| [`function-length`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#function-length)          |  int, int (defaults to 50 statements, 75 lines)   |  Warns on functions exceeding the statements or lines max |    no    |  no   |
 | [`nested-structs`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#nested-structs)          |  n/a   |  Warns on structs within structs |    no    |  no   |
 | [`useless-break`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#useless-break)          |  n/a   |  Warns on useless `break` statements in case clauses |    no    |  no   |
-| [`banned-characters`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#banned-characters)          |  n/a   |  Checks banned characters in identifiers |    no    |  no   |
+| [`banned-characters`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#banned-characters)          |  []string (defaults to []string{})   |  Checks banned characters in identifiers |    no    |  no   |
 | [`optimize-operands-order`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#optimize-operands-order)          |  n/a   |  Checks inefficient conditional expressions |    no    |  no   |
 | [`use-any`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#use-any)          |  n/a   |  Proposes to replace `interface{}` with its alias `any` |    no    |  no   |
 | [`datarace`](./RULES_DESCRIPTIONS.md#datarace)          |  n/a   |  Spots potential dataraces |    no    |  no   |
diff --git a/rule/argument-limit.go b/rule/argument-limit.go
index 8042da15e..8120288fd 100644
--- a/rule/argument-limit.go
+++ b/rule/argument-limit.go
@@ -14,10 +14,16 @@ type ArgumentsLimitRule struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 }
 
+const defaultArgumentsLimit = 8
+
 func (r *ArgumentsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
 	if r.total == 0 {
-		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+		if len(arguments) < 1 {
+			r.total = defaultArgumentsLimit
+			return
+		}
 
 		total, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 		if !ok {
@@ -25,7 +31,6 @@ func (r *ArgumentsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		}
 		r.total = int(total)
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
diff --git a/rule/banned-characters.go b/rule/banned-characters.go
index 76fa2235a..12997bae1 100644
--- a/rule/banned-characters.go
+++ b/rule/banned-characters.go
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ const bannedCharsRuleName = "banned-characters"
 
 func (r *BannedCharsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
-	if r.bannedCharList == nil {
+	defer r.Unlock()
+	if r.bannedCharList == nil && len(arguments) > 0 {
 		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, bannedCharsRuleName)
 		r.bannedCharList = r.getBannedCharsList(arguments)
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applied the rule to the given file.
diff --git a/rule/cognitive-complexity.go b/rule/cognitive-complexity.go
index a9c11a7d0..1973faef8 100644
--- a/rule/cognitive-complexity.go
+++ b/rule/cognitive-complexity.go
@@ -16,10 +16,17 @@ type CognitiveComplexityRule struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 }
 
+const defaultMaxCognitiveComplexity = 7
+
 func (r *CognitiveComplexityRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
 	if r.maxComplexity == 0 {
-		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+
+		if len(arguments) < 1 {
+			r.maxComplexity = defaultMaxCognitiveComplexity
+			return
+		}
 
 		complexity, ok := arguments[0].(int64)
 		if !ok {
@@ -27,7 +34,6 @@ func (r *CognitiveComplexityRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		}
 		r.maxComplexity = int(complexity)
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
diff --git a/rule/cyclomatic.go b/rule/cyclomatic.go
index afd41818b..9f6d50043 100644
--- a/rule/cyclomatic.go
+++ b/rule/cyclomatic.go
@@ -17,10 +17,16 @@ type CyclomaticRule struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 }
 
+const defaultMaxCyclomaticComplexity = 10
+
 func (r *CyclomaticRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
 	if r.maxComplexity == 0 {
-		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+		if len(arguments) < 1 {
+			r.maxComplexity = defaultMaxCyclomaticComplexity
+			return
+		}
 
 		complexity, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 		if !ok {
@@ -28,7 +34,6 @@ func (r *CyclomaticRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		}
 		r.maxComplexity = int(complexity)
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
diff --git a/rule/file-header.go b/rule/file-header.go
index 76f548f51..a7d69ff2b 100644
--- a/rule/file-header.go
+++ b/rule/file-header.go
@@ -21,21 +21,28 @@ var (
 
 func (r *FileHeaderRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
 	if r.header == "" {
-		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+		if len(arguments) < 1 {
+			return
+		}
+
 		var ok bool
 		r.header, ok = arguments[0].(string)
 		if !ok {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid argument for \"file-header\" rule: first argument should be a string, got %T", arguments[0]))
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid argument for \"file-header\" rule: argument should be a string, got %T", arguments[0]))
 		}
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
 func (r *FileHeaderRule) Apply(file *lint.File, arguments lint.Arguments) []lint.Failure {
 	r.configure(arguments)
 
+	if r.header == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	failure := []lint.Failure{
 		{
 			Node:       file.AST,
diff --git a/rule/function-length.go b/rule/function-length.go
index d600d7a2a..341a6a027 100644
--- a/rule/function-length.go
+++ b/rule/function-length.go
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ type FunctionLength struct {
 
 func (r *FunctionLength) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	r.Unlock()
 	if !r.configured {
 		maxStmt, maxLines := r.parseArguments(arguments)
 		r.maxStmt = int(maxStmt)
 		r.maxLines = int(maxLines)
 		r.configured = true
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
@@ -53,7 +53,14 @@ func (*FunctionLength) Name() string {
 	return "function-length"
 }
 
+const defaultFuncStmtsLimit = 50
+const defaultFuncLinesLimit = 75
+
 func (*FunctionLength) parseArguments(arguments lint.Arguments) (maxStmt, maxLines int64) {
+	if len(arguments) == 0 {
+		return defaultFuncStmtsLimit, defaultFuncLinesLimit
+	}
+
 	if len(arguments) != 2 {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid configuration for "function-length" rule, expected 2 arguments but got %d`, len(arguments)))
 	}
diff --git a/rule/function-result-limit.go b/rule/function-result-limit.go
index 5d2b87316..6a0748011 100644
--- a/rule/function-result-limit.go
+++ b/rule/function-result-limit.go
@@ -14,11 +14,16 @@ type FunctionResultsLimitRule struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 }
 
+const defaultResultsLimit = 3
+
 func (r *FunctionResultsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
 	if r.max == 0 {
-		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
-
+		if len(arguments) < 1 {
+			r.max = defaultResultsLimit
+			return
+		}
 		max, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 		if !ok {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf(`invalid value passed as return results number to the "function-result-limit" rule; need int64 but got %T`, arguments[0]))
@@ -28,7 +33,6 @@ func (r *FunctionResultsLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		}
 		r.max = int(max)
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
diff --git a/rule/line-length-limit.go b/rule/line-length-limit.go
index 9e512c1c2..1a414f691 100644
--- a/rule/line-length-limit.go
+++ b/rule/line-length-limit.go
@@ -18,10 +18,16 @@ type LineLengthLimitRule struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 }
 
+const defaultLineLengthLimit = 80
+
 func (r *LineLengthLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
 	if r.max == 0 {
-		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
+		if len(arguments) < 1 {
+			r.max = defaultLineLengthLimit
+			return
+		}
 
 		max, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
 		if !ok || max < 0 {
@@ -30,7 +36,6 @@ func (r *LineLengthLimitRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 
 		r.max = int(max)
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.
diff --git a/rule/max-public-structs.go b/rule/max-public-structs.go
index e39f49c69..25be3e676 100644
--- a/rule/max-public-structs.go
+++ b/rule/max-public-structs.go
@@ -14,9 +14,17 @@ type MaxPublicStructsRule struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 }
 
+const defaultMaxPublicStructs = 5
+
 func (r *MaxPublicStructsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 	r.Lock()
+	defer r.Unlock()
 	if r.max < 1 {
+		if len(arguments) < 1 {
+			r.max = defaultMaxPublicStructs
+			return
+		}
+
 		checkNumberOfArguments(1, arguments, r.Name())
 
 		max, ok := arguments[0].(int64) // Alt. non panicking version
@@ -25,7 +33,6 @@ func (r *MaxPublicStructsRule) configure(arguments lint.Arguments) {
 		}
 		r.max = max
 	}
-	r.Unlock()
 }
 
 // Apply applies the rule to given file.