diff --git a/Orange/widgets/visualize/owruleviewer.py b/Orange/widgets/visualize/owruleviewer.py
index 70475f4fda2..574d604d175 100644
--- a/Orange/widgets/visualize/owruleviewer.py
+++ b/Orange/widgets/visualize/owruleviewer.py
@@ -137,19 +137,19 @@ def commit(self):
         data_output = None
         self._save_selected(actual=True)
 
+        data = self.data or self.classifier and self.classifier.instances
         if (self.selected is not None and
-                self.data is not None and
+                data is not None and
                 self.classifier is not None and
-                self.data.domain.attributes ==
+                data.domain.attributes ==
                 self.classifier.original_domain.attributes):
 
-            status = np.ones(self.data.X.shape[0], dtype=bool)
+            status = np.ones(data.X.shape[0], dtype=bool)
             for i in self.selected:
                 rule = self.classifier.rule_list[i]
-                status &= rule.evaluate_data(self.data.X)
+                status &= rule.evaluate_data(data.X)
 
-            data_output = self.data.from_table_rows(
-                self.data, status.nonzero()[0])
+            data_output = data.from_table_rows(data, status.nonzero()[0])
 
         self.send(OWRuleViewer.data_output_identifier, data_output)
 
diff --git a/Orange/widgets/visualize/tests/test_owruleviewer.py b/Orange/widgets/visualize/tests/test_owruleviewer.py
index 44a7c81eb62..e5d439fdcc3 100644
--- a/Orange/widgets/visualize/tests/test_owruleviewer.py
+++ b/Orange/widgets/visualize/tests/test_owruleviewer.py
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.titanic = Table('titanic')
         self.learner = CN2Learner()
         self.classifier = self.learner(self.titanic)
+        # CN2Learner does not add `instances` attribute to the model, but
+        # the Rules widget does. We simulate the model we get from the widget.
+        self.classifier.instances = self.titanic
         self.widget = self.create_widget(OWRuleViewer)
 
     def test_set_data(self):