diff --git a/moto/s3/models.py b/moto/s3/models.py
index d889b8cab..fc977bb99 100644
--- a/moto/s3/models.py
+++ b/moto/s3/models.py
@@ -419,12 +419,31 @@ class FakeBucket(BaseModel):
     def set_lifecycle(self, rules):
         self.rules = []
         for rule in rules:
-            # Extract actions from Lifecycle rule
+            # Extract and validate actions from Lifecycle rule
             expiration = rule.get('Expiration')
             transition = rule.get('Transition')
-            nve = rule.get('NoncurrentVersionExpiration')
-            nvt = rule.get('NoncurrentVersionTransition')
-            aimu = rule.get('AbortIncompleteMultipartUpload')
+
+            nve_noncurrent_days = None
+            if rule.get('NoncurrentVersionExpiration'):
+                if not rule["NoncurrentVersionExpiration"].get('NoncurrentDays'):
+                    raise MalformedXML()
+                nve_noncurrent_days = rule["NoncurrentVersionExpiration"]["NoncurrentDays"]
+
+            nvt_noncurrent_days = None
+            nvt_storage_class = None
+            if rule.get('NoncurrentVersionTransition'):
+                if not rule["NoncurrentVersionTransition"].get('NoncurrentDays'):
+                    raise MalformedXML()
+                if not rule["NoncurrentVersionTransition"].get('StorageClass'):
+                    raise MalformedXML()
+                nvt_noncurrent_days = rule["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["NoncurrentDays"]
+                nvt_storage_class = rule["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["StorageClass"]
+
+            aimu_days = None
+            if rule.get('AbortIncompleteMultipartUpload'):
+                if not rule["AbortIncompleteMultipartUpload"].get('DaysAfterInitiation'):
+                    raise MalformedXML()
+                aimu_days = rule["AbortIncompleteMultipartUpload"]["DaysAfterInitiation"]
 
             eodm = None
             if expiration and expiration.get("ExpiredObjectDeleteMarker") is not None:
@@ -472,10 +491,10 @@ class FakeBucket(BaseModel):
                 transition_date=transition.get('Date') if transition else None,
                 storage_class=transition.get('StorageClass') if transition else None,
                 expired_object_delete_marker=eodm,
-                nve_noncurrent_days=nve.get('NoncurrentDays') if nve else None,
-                nvt_noncurrent_days=nvt.get('NoncurrentDays') if nvt else None,
-                nvt_storage_class=nvt.get('StorageClass') if nvt else None,
-                aimu_days=aimu.get('DaysAfterInitiation') if aimu else None,
+                nve_noncurrent_days=nve_noncurrent_days,
+                nvt_noncurrent_days=nvt_noncurrent_days,
+                nvt_storage_class=nvt_storage_class,
+                aimu_days=aimu_days,
             ))
 
     def delete_lifecycle(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_s3/test_s3_lifecycle.py b/tests/test_s3/test_s3_lifecycle.py
index 9c4bd49bf..ff89dc113 100644
--- a/tests/test_s3/test_s3_lifecycle.py
+++ b/tests/test_s3/test_s3_lifecycle.py
@@ -237,10 +237,10 @@ def test_lifecycle_with_nvt():
     lfc = {
         "Rules": [
             {
-                "NoncurrentVersionTransition": {
+                "NoncurrentVersionTransitions": [{
                     "NoncurrentDays": 30,
                     "StorageClass": "ONEZONE_IA"
-                },
+                }],
                 "ID": "wholebucket",
                 "Filter": {
                     "Prefix": ""
@@ -252,31 +252,31 @@ def test_lifecycle_with_nvt():
     client.put_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket", LifecycleConfiguration=lfc)
     result = client.get_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket")
     assert len(result["Rules"]) == 1
-    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["NoncurrentDays"] == 30
-    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["StorageClass"] == "ONEZONE_IA"
+    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["NoncurrentDays"] == 30
+    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["StorageClass"] == "ONEZONE_IA"
 
     # Change NoncurrentDays:
-    lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["NoncurrentDays"] = 10
+    lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["NoncurrentDays"] = 10
     client.put_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket", LifecycleConfiguration=lfc)
     result = client.get_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket")
     assert len(result["Rules"]) == 1
-    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["NoncurrentDays"] == 10
+    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["NoncurrentDays"] == 10
 
     # Change StorageClass:
-    lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["StorageClass"] = "GLACIER"
+    lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["StorageClass"] = "GLACIER"
     client.put_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket", LifecycleConfiguration=lfc)
     result = client.get_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket")
     assert len(result["Rules"]) == 1
-    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["StorageClass"] == "GLACIER"
+    assert result["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["StorageClass"] == "GLACIER"
 
     # With failures for missing children:
-    del lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["NoncurrentDays"]
+    del lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["NoncurrentDays"]
     with assert_raises(ClientError) as err:
         client.put_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket", LifecycleConfiguration=lfc)
     assert err.exception.response["Error"]["Code"] == "MalformedXML"
-    lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["NoncurrentDays"] = 30
+    lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["NoncurrentDays"] = 30
 
-    del lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransition"]["StorageClass"]
+    del lfc["Rules"][0]["NoncurrentVersionTransitions"][0]["StorageClass"]
     with assert_raises(ClientError) as err:
         client.put_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(Bucket="bucket", LifecycleConfiguration=lfc)
     assert err.exception.response["Error"]["Code"] == "MalformedXML"