diff --git a/Documentation/config-labels.txt b/Documentation/config-labels.txt
index 84e4062..6272b54 100644
--- a/Documentation/config-labels.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config-labels.txt
@@ -217,9 +217,9 @@
 
 * `AnyWithBlock`
 +
-The lowest possible negative value, if present, blocks a submit, Any
-other value enables a submit. To permit blocking submits, ensure
-that a negative value is defined.
+The label is not mandatory but the lowest possible negative value,
+if present, blocks a submit. To permit blocking submits, ensure that a
+negative value is defined.
 
 * `MaxNoBlock`
 +
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/common/data/LabelFunction.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/common/data/LabelFunction.java
index 0ce2c29..7d13c70 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/common/data/LabelFunction.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/common/data/LabelFunction.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package com.google.gerrit.common.data;
 
 import com.google.gerrit.common.Nullable;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSetApproval;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -27,15 +28,15 @@
  * rules, in which case the choice of function in the project config is ignored.
  *
  * <p>Function semantics are documented in {@code config-labels.txt}, and actual behavior is
- * implemented in Prolog in {@code gerrit_common.pl}.
+ * implemented both in Prolog in {@code gerrit_common.pl} and in the {@link #check} method.
  */
 public enum LabelFunction {
-  MAX_WITH_BLOCK("MaxWithBlock", true),
-  ANY_WITH_BLOCK("AnyWithBlock", true),
-  MAX_NO_BLOCK("MaxNoBlock", false),
-  NO_BLOCK("NoBlock", false),
-  NO_OP("NoOp", false),
-  PATCH_SET_LOCK("PatchSetLock", false);
+  ANY_WITH_BLOCK("AnyWithBlock", true, false, false),
+  MAX_WITH_BLOCK("MaxWithBlock", true, true, true),
+  MAX_NO_BLOCK("MaxNoBlock", false, true, true),
+  NO_BLOCK("NoBlock"),
+  NO_OP("NoOp"),
+  PATCH_SET_LOCK("PatchSetLock");
 
   public static final Map<String, LabelFunction> ALL;
 
@@ -53,10 +54,18 @@
 
   private final String name;
   private final boolean isBlock;
+  private final boolean isRequired;
+  private final boolean requiresMaxValue;
 
-  private LabelFunction(String name, boolean isBlock) {
+  LabelFunction(String name) {
+    this(name, false, false, false);
+  }
+
+  LabelFunction(String name, boolean isBlock, boolean isRequired, boolean requiresMaxValue) {
     this.name = name;
     this.isBlock = isBlock;
+    this.isRequired = isRequired;
+    this.requiresMaxValue = requiresMaxValue;
   }
 
   /** The function name as defined in documentation and {@code project.config}. */
@@ -68,4 +77,47 @@
   public boolean isBlock() {
     return isBlock;
   }
+
+  /** Whether the label is a mandatory label, meaning absence of votes will prevent submission. */
+  public boolean isRequired() {
+    return isRequired;
+  }
+
+  /** Whether the label requires a vote with the maximum value to allow submission. */
+  public boolean isMaxValueRequired() {
+    return requiresMaxValue;
+  }
+
+  public SubmitRecord.Label check(LabelType labelType, Iterable<PatchSetApproval> approvals) {
+    SubmitRecord.Label submitRecordLabel = new SubmitRecord.Label();
+    submitRecordLabel.label = labelType.getName();
+
+    submitRecordLabel.status = SubmitRecord.Label.Status.MAY;
+    if (isRequired) {
+      submitRecordLabel.status = SubmitRecord.Label.Status.NEED;
+    }
+
+    for (PatchSetApproval a : approvals) {
+      if (a.getValue() == 0) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      if (isBlock && labelType.isMaxNegative(a)) {
+        submitRecordLabel.appliedBy = a.getAccountId();
+        submitRecordLabel.status = SubmitRecord.Label.Status.REJECT;
+        return submitRecordLabel;
+      }
+
+      if (labelType.isMaxPositive(a) || !requiresMaxValue) {
+        submitRecordLabel.appliedBy = a.getAccountId();
+
+        submitRecordLabel.status = SubmitRecord.Label.Status.MAY;
+        if (isRequired) {
+          submitRecordLabel.status = SubmitRecord.Label.Status.OK;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    return submitRecordLabel;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/util/BatchProgramModule.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/util/BatchProgramModule.java
index 357674d..ffec375 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/util/BatchProgramModule.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/util/BatchProgramModule.java
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeData;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeQueryProcessor;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.restapi.group.GroupModule;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.rules.DefaultSubmitRule;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.rules.PrologModule;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.update.BatchUpdate;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
@@ -172,6 +173,7 @@
     // Submit rule evaluator
     factory(SubmitRuleEvaluator.Factory.class);
     install(new PrologModule());
+    install(new DefaultSubmitRule.Module());
 
     bind(ChangeJson.Factory.class).toProvider(Providers.<ChangeJson.Factory>of(null));
     bind(EventUtil.class).toProvider(Providers.<EventUtil>of(null));
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/config/GerritGlobalModule.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/config/GerritGlobalModule.java
index 9536d55..108853a 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/config/GerritGlobalModule.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/config/GerritGlobalModule.java
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ConflictsCacheImpl;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.restapi.config.ConfigRestModule;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.restapi.group.GroupModule;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.rules.DefaultSubmitRule;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.rules.PrologModule;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.rules.RulesCache;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.rules.SubmitRule;
@@ -246,6 +247,7 @@
     install(new GroupModule());
     install(new NoteDbModule(cfg));
     install(new PrologModule());
+    install(new DefaultSubmitRule.Module());
     install(new ReceiveCommitsModule());
     install(new SshAddressesModule());
     install(ThreadLocalRequestContext.module());
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectState.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectState.java
index 2ef7891..e3140b5 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectState.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectState.java
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Set;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.errors.ConfigInvalidException;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Ref;
@@ -197,6 +198,24 @@
     return capabilities;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns true if the Prolog engine is expected to run for this project, that is if this project
+   * or a parent possesses a rules.pl file.
+   */
+  public boolean hasPrologRules() {
+    // We check if this project has a rules.pl file
+    if (getConfig().getRulesId() != null) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    // If not, we check the parents.
+    return parents()
+        .stream()
+        .map(ProjectState::getConfig)
+        .map(ProjectConfig::getRulesId)
+        .anyMatch(Objects::nonNull);
+  }
+
   /** @return Construct a new PrologEnvironment for the calling thread. */
   public PrologEnvironment newPrologEnvironment() throws CompileException {
     PrologMachineCopy pmc = rulesMachine;
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/rules/DefaultSubmitRule.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/rules/DefaultSubmitRule.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9482fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/rules/DefaultSubmitRule.java
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2018 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.google.gerrit.server.rules;
+
+import static com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList.toImmutableList;
+
+import com.google.gerrit.common.data.LabelFunction;
+import com.google.gerrit.common.data.LabelType;
+import com.google.gerrit.common.data.SubmitRecord;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.annotations.Exports;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.config.FactoryModule;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSetApproval;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectCache;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectState;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.project.SubmitRuleOptions;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeData;
+import com.google.gwtorm.server.OrmException;
+import com.google.inject.Inject;
+import com.google.inject.Singleton;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.List;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+/**
+ * Java implementation of Gerrit's default pre-submit rules behavior: check if the labels have the
+ * correct values, according to the {@link LabelFunction} they are attached to.
+ *
+ * <p>As this behavior is also implemented by the Prolog rules system, we skip it if at least one
+ * project in the hierarchy has a {@code rules.pl} file.
+ */
+@Singleton
+public final class DefaultSubmitRule implements SubmitRule {
+  private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(DefaultSubmitRule.class);
+
+  public static class Module extends FactoryModule {
+    @Override
+    public void configure() {
+      bind(SubmitRule.class)
+          .annotatedWith(Exports.named("DefaultRules"))
+          .to(DefaultSubmitRule.class);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private final ProjectCache projectCache;
+
+  @Inject
+  DefaultSubmitRule(ProjectCache projectCache) {
+    this.projectCache = projectCache;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public Collection<SubmitRecord> evaluate(ChangeData cd, SubmitRuleOptions options) {
+    ProjectState projectState = projectCache.get(cd.project());
+
+    // In case at least one project has a rules.pl file, we let Prolog handle it.
+    // The Prolog rules engine will also handle the labels for us.
+    if (projectState == null || projectState.hasPrologRules()) {
+      return Collections.emptyList();
+    }
+
+    SubmitRecord submitRecord = new SubmitRecord();
+    submitRecord.status = SubmitRecord.Status.OK;
+
+    List<LabelType> labelTypes;
+    List<PatchSetApproval> approvals;
+    try {
+      labelTypes = cd.getLabelTypes().getLabelTypes();
+      approvals = cd.currentApprovals();
+    } catch (OrmException e) {
+      log.error("Unable to fetch labels and approvals for change {}", cd.getId(), e);
+
+      submitRecord.errorMessage = "Unable to fetch labels and approvals for the change";
+      submitRecord.status = SubmitRecord.Status.RULE_ERROR;
+      return Collections.singletonList(submitRecord);
+    }
+
+    submitRecord.labels = new ArrayList<>(labelTypes.size());
+
+    for (LabelType t : labelTypes) {
+      LabelFunction labelFunction = t.getFunction();
+      if (labelFunction == null) {
+        log.error(
+            "Unable to find the LabelFunction for label {}, change {}", t.getName(), cd.getId());
+
+        submitRecord.errorMessage = "Unable to find the LabelFunction for label " + t.getName();
+        submitRecord.status = SubmitRecord.Status.RULE_ERROR;
+        return Collections.singletonList(submitRecord);
+      }
+
+      Collection<PatchSetApproval> approvalsForLabel = getApprovalsForLabel(approvals, t);
+      SubmitRecord.Label label = labelFunction.check(t, approvalsForLabel);
+      submitRecord.labels.add(label);
+
+      switch (label.status) {
+        case OK:
+        case MAY:
+          break;
+
+        case NEED:
+        case REJECT:
+        case IMPOSSIBLE:
+          submitRecord.status = SubmitRecord.Status.NOT_READY;
+          break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return Collections.singletonList(submitRecord);
+  }
+
+  private static List<PatchSetApproval> getApprovalsForLabel(
+      List<PatchSetApproval> approvals, LabelType t) {
+    return approvals
+        .stream()
+        .filter(input -> input.getLabel().equals(t.getLabelId().get()))
+        .collect(toImmutableList());
+  }
+}
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/rules/PrologRule.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/rules/PrologRule.java
index 44f18c5f..deddc36 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/rules/PrologRule.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/rules/PrologRule.java
@@ -16,25 +16,34 @@
 
 import com.google.gerrit.common.data.SubmitRecord;
 import com.google.gerrit.common.data.SubmitTypeRecord;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectCache;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectState;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.SubmitRuleOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeData;
-import com.google.gerrit.server.rules.PrologRuleEvaluator.Factory;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Singleton;
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Collections;
 
 @Singleton
 public class PrologRule implements SubmitRule {
-
-  private final Factory factory;
+  private final PrologRuleEvaluator.Factory factory;
+  private final ProjectCache projectCache;
 
   @Inject
-  private PrologRule(PrologRuleEvaluator.Factory factory) {
+  private PrologRule(PrologRuleEvaluator.Factory factory, ProjectCache projectCache) {
     this.factory = factory;
+    this.projectCache = projectCache;
   }
 
   @Override
   public Collection<SubmitRecord> evaluate(ChangeData cd, SubmitRuleOptions opts) {
+    ProjectState projectState = projectCache.get(cd.project());
+    // We only want to run the prolog engine if we have at least one rules.pl file to use.
+    if (projectState == null || !projectState.hasPrologRules()) {
+      return Collections.emptyList();
+    }
+
     return getEvaluator(cd, opts).evaluate();
   }
 
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/server/project/CustomLabelIT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/server/project/CustomLabelIT.java
index e7d7fc7..0c1be53 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/server/project/CustomLabelIT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/server/project/CustomLabelIT.java
@@ -232,6 +232,23 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void customLabelMaxWithBlock_MaxVoteNegativeVoteBlock() throws Exception {
+    label.setFunction(MAX_WITH_BLOCK);
+    saveLabelConfig();
+    PushOneCommit.Result r = createChange();
+    revision(r).review(new ReviewInput().label(label.getName(), 1));
+    revision(r).review(new ReviewInput().label(label.getName(), -1));
+    ChangeInfo c = getWithLabels(r);
+    LabelInfo q = c.labels.get(label.getName());
+    assertThat(q.all).hasSize(1);
+    assertThat(q.approved).isNull();
+    assertThat(q.recommended).isNull();
+    assertThat(q.disliked).isNull();
+    assertThat(q.rejected).isNotNull();
+    assertThat(q.blocking).isTrue();
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void customLabel_DisallowPostSubmit() throws Exception {
     label.setFunction(NO_OP);
     label.setAllowPostSubmit(false);
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/common/data/LabelFunctionTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/common/data/LabelFunctionTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..985f514
--- /dev/null
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/common/data/LabelFunctionTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2018 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.google.gerrit.common.data;
+
+import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Account;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Change;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.LabelId;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSet;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSet.Id;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSetApproval;
+import java.sql.Date;
+import java.time.Instant;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+public class LabelFunctionTest {
+  private static final String LABEL_NAME = "Verified";
+  private static final LabelId LABEL_ID = new LabelId(LABEL_NAME);
+  private static final Change.Id CHANGE_ID = new Change.Id(100);
+  private static final PatchSet.Id PS_ID = new PatchSet.Id(CHANGE_ID, 1);
+  private static final LabelType VERIFIED_LABEL = makeLabel();
+  private static final PatchSetApproval APPROVAL_2 = makeApproval(2);
+  private static final PatchSetApproval APPROVAL_1 = makeApproval(1);
+  private static final PatchSetApproval APPROVAL_0 = makeApproval(0);
+  private static final PatchSetApproval APPROVAL_M1 = makeApproval(-1);
+  private static final PatchSetApproval APPROVAL_M2 = makeApproval(-2);
+
+  @Test
+  public void checkLabelNameIsCorrect() {
+    for (LabelFunction function : LabelFunction.values()) {
+      SubmitRecord.Label myLabel = function.check(VERIFIED_LABEL, ImmutableList.of());
+      assertThat(myLabel.label).isEqualTo("Verified");
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void checkFunctionDoesNothing() {
+    checkNothingHappens(LabelFunction.NO_BLOCK);
+    checkNothingHappens(LabelFunction.NO_OP);
+    checkNothingHappens(LabelFunction.PATCH_SET_LOCK);
+    checkNothingHappens(LabelFunction.ANY_WITH_BLOCK);
+
+    checkLabelIsRequired(LabelFunction.MAX_WITH_BLOCK);
+    checkLabelIsRequired(LabelFunction.MAX_NO_BLOCK);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void checkBlockWorks() {
+    checkBlockWorks(LabelFunction.ANY_WITH_BLOCK);
+    checkBlockWorks(LabelFunction.MAX_WITH_BLOCK);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void checkMaxWorks() {
+    checkMaxIsEnforced(LabelFunction.MAX_NO_BLOCK);
+    checkMaxIsEnforced(LabelFunction.MAX_WITH_BLOCK);
+
+    checkMaxValidatesTheLabel(LabelFunction.MAX_NO_BLOCK);
+    checkMaxValidatesTheLabel(LabelFunction.MAX_WITH_BLOCK);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void checkMaxNoBlockIgnoresMin() {
+    List<PatchSetApproval> approvals = ImmutableList.of(APPROVAL_M2, APPROVAL_2, APPROVAL_M2);
+
+    SubmitRecord.Label myLabel = LabelFunction.MAX_NO_BLOCK.check(VERIFIED_LABEL, approvals);
+
+    assertThat(myLabel.status).isEqualTo(SubmitRecord.Label.Status.OK);
+    assertThat(myLabel.appliedBy).isEqualTo(APPROVAL_2.getAccountId());
+  }
+
+  private static LabelType makeLabel() {
+    List<LabelValue> values = new ArrayList<>();
+    // The label text is irrelevant here, only the numerical value is used
+    values.add(new LabelValue((short) -2, "Great job, please fix compilation."));
+    values.add(new LabelValue((short) -1, "Really good, please make some minor changes."));
+    values.add(new LabelValue((short) 0, "No vote."));
+    values.add(new LabelValue((short) 1, "Closest thing perfection."));
+    values.add(new LabelValue((short) 2, "Perfect!"));
+    return new LabelType(LABEL_NAME, values);
+  }
+
+  private static PatchSetApproval makeApproval(int value) {
+    Account.Id accountId = new Account.Id(10000 + value);
+    PatchSetApproval.Key key = makeKey(PS_ID, accountId, LABEL_ID);
+    return new PatchSetApproval(key, (short) value, Date.from(Instant.now()));
+  }
+
+  private static PatchSetApproval.Key makeKey(Id psId, Account.Id accountId, LabelId labelId) {
+    return new PatchSetApproval.Key(psId, accountId, labelId);
+  }
+
+  private static void checkBlockWorks(LabelFunction function) {
+    List<PatchSetApproval> approvals = ImmutableList.of(APPROVAL_1, APPROVAL_M2, APPROVAL_2);
+
+    SubmitRecord.Label myLabel = function.check(VERIFIED_LABEL, approvals);
+
+    assertThat(myLabel.status).isEqualTo(SubmitRecord.Label.Status.REJECT);
+    assertThat(myLabel.appliedBy).isEqualTo(APPROVAL_M2.getAccountId());
+  }
+
+  private static void checkNothingHappens(LabelFunction function) {
+    SubmitRecord.Label myLabel = function.check(VERIFIED_LABEL, ImmutableList.of());
+
+    assertThat(myLabel.status).isEqualTo(SubmitRecord.Label.Status.MAY);
+    assertThat(myLabel.appliedBy).isNull();
+  }
+
+  private static void checkLabelIsRequired(LabelFunction function) {
+    SubmitRecord.Label myLabel = function.check(VERIFIED_LABEL, ImmutableList.of());
+
+    assertThat(myLabel.status).isEqualTo(SubmitRecord.Label.Status.NEED);
+    assertThat(myLabel.appliedBy).isNull();
+  }
+
+  private static void checkMaxIsEnforced(LabelFunction function) {
+    List<PatchSetApproval> approvals = ImmutableList.of(APPROVAL_1, APPROVAL_0);
+
+    SubmitRecord.Label myLabel = function.check(VERIFIED_LABEL, approvals);
+
+    assertThat(myLabel.status).isEqualTo(SubmitRecord.Label.Status.NEED);
+  }
+
+  private static void checkMaxValidatesTheLabel(LabelFunction function) {
+    List<PatchSetApproval> approvals = ImmutableList.of(APPROVAL_1, APPROVAL_2, APPROVAL_M1);
+
+    SubmitRecord.Label myLabel = function.check(VERIFIED_LABEL, approvals);
+
+    assertThat(myLabel.status).isEqualTo(SubmitRecord.Label.Status.OK);
+    assertThat(myLabel.appliedBy).isEqualTo(APPROVAL_2.getAccountId());
+  }
+}