diff --git a/.eslintrc.js b/.eslintrc.js
index 531c27513b1c..8024c68f3176 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.js
+++ b/.eslintrc.js
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ const base = {
   'new-cap': ['error', { newIsCap: true, capIsNew: false }],
   // require parentheses when invoking a constructor with no arguments
   'new-parens': 'error',
+  // disallow `if` as the only statement in an `else` block
+  'no-lonely-if': 'error',
   // disallow mixed spaces and tabs for indentation
   'no-mixed-spaces-and-tabs': 'error',
   // disallow multiple empty lines and only one newline at the end
@@ -383,7 +385,7 @@ const base = {
   'unicorn/no-console-spaces': 'error',
   // enforce the use of unicode escapes instead of hexadecimal escapes
   'unicorn/no-hex-escape': 'error',
-  // disallow if as the only statement in an else block
+  // disallow `if` statements as the only statement in `if` blocks without `else`
   'unicorn/no-lonely-if': 'error',
   // forbid classes that only have static members
   'unicorn/no-static-only-class': 'error',