diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index c80152a..f7163c1 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 * Fixed swedish and norwedian translations, min/max messages got switched. Fixes #181
 * Fixed #184 - resetForm: should unset lastElement
 * Fixed #71 - improve existing time method and add time12h method for 12h am/pm time format
+* Fixed #177 - Fix validation of a single radio or checkbox input
 
 1.8.1
 ---
diff --git a/jquery.validate.js b/jquery.validate.js
index 2699a78..1b1ae92 100644
--- a/jquery.validate.js
+++ b/jquery.validate.js
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ $.extend($.validator, {
 
 		// http://docs.jquery.com/Plugins/Validation/Validator/element
 		element: function( element ) {
-			element = this.clean( element );
+			element = this.validationTargetFor( this.clean( element ) );
 			this.lastElement = element;
 			this.prepareElement( element );
 			this.currentElements = $(element);
@@ -493,12 +493,7 @@ $.extend($.validator, {
 		},
 
 		check: function( element ) {
-			element = this.clean( element );
-
-			// if radio/checkbox, validate first element in group instead
-			if (this.checkable(element)) {
-				element = this.findByName( element.name ).not(this.settings.ignore)[0];
-			}
+			element = this.validationTargetFor( this.clean( element ) );
 
 			var rules = $(element).rules();
 			var dependencyMismatch = false;
@@ -679,6 +674,14 @@ $.extend($.validator, {
 			return this.groups[element.name] || (this.checkable(element) ? element.name : element.id || element.name);
 		},
 
+		validationTargetFor: function(element) {
+			// if radio/checkbox, validate first element in group instead
+			if (this.checkable(element)) {
+				element = this.findByName( element.name ).not(this.settings.ignore)[0];
+			}
+			return element;
+		},
+
 		checkable: function( element ) {
 			return /radio|checkbox/i.test(element.type);
 		},
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index a12bb92..2eed3bf 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -1113,6 +1113,28 @@ test("validate multiple checkbox on click", function() {
 	errors(1);
 });
 
+test("correct checkbox receives the error", function(){
+	function trigger(element) {
+		element.click();
+		// triggered click event screws up checked-state in 1.4 
+		element.valid();
+	}
+	var e1 = $("#check1").attr("checked", false);
+	var e2 = $("#check1b").attr("checked", false);
+    var v = $("#form").find('[type=checkbox]').attr('checked', false).end().validate({
+        rules:{
+            check: {
+                    required: true,
+                    minlength: 2
+            }
+        }
+    });
+    equals(false, v.form());
+    trigger(e1);
+    equals(false, v.form());
+    ok(v.errorList[0].element.id === v.currentElements[0].id, "the proper checkbox has the error AND is present in currentElements");
+});
+
 test("validate radio on click", function() {
 	function errors(expected, message) {
 		equals(expected, v.size(), message );