diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 92a0697..bae9ae4 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@
         "source": "https://git.leadmagnet.dev/LeadMagnet/leadmail-sdk"
     },
     "require": {
-        "php": "^8.2",
+        "php": "^8.1",
         "guzzlehttp/guzzle": "^7.0",
-        "illuminate/mail": "^11.0|^12.0",
-        "illuminate/support": "^11.0|^12.0"
+        "illuminate/mail": "^9.0|^10.0",
+        "illuminate/support": "^9.0|^10.0"
     },
     "require-dev": {
-        "orchestra/testbench": "^9.0|^10.0",
-        "pestphp/pest": "^3.0|^4.0"
+        "orchestra/testbench": "^7.0|^8.0",
+        "pestphp/pest": "^1.0|^2.0"
     },
     "autoload": {
         "psr-4": {
diff --git a/src/LeadMailServiceProvider.php b/src/LeadMailServiceProvider.php
index 5ae0158..218482f 100644
--- a/src/LeadMailServiceProvider.php
+++ b/src/LeadMailServiceProvider.php
@@ -44,13 +44,8 @@ class LeadMailServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
 
         Validator::extend('leadmail_verify', function (string $attribute, mixed $value) {
             $rule = $this->app->make(LeadMailVerify::class);
-            $passed = true;
 
-            $rule->validate($attribute, $value, function () use (&$passed) {
-                $passed = false;
-            });
-
-            return $passed;
+            return $rule->passes($attribute, $value);
         }, 'The :attribute email address could not be verified.');
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Rules/LeadMailVerify.php b/src/Rules/LeadMailVerify.php
index 6e38a72..262ec3d 100644
--- a/src/Rules/LeadMailVerify.php
+++ b/src/Rules/LeadMailVerify.php
@@ -2,23 +2,24 @@
 
 namespace LeadM\LeadMail\Rules;
 
-use Closure;
-use Illuminate\Contracts\Validation\ValidationRule;
+use Illuminate\Contracts\Validation\Rule;
 use LeadM\LeadMail\LeadMailClient;
 
-class LeadMailVerify implements ValidationRule
+class LeadMailVerify implements Rule
 {
+    protected string $failMessage = 'The :attribute email address could not be verified.';
+
     public function __construct(
         protected readonly LeadMailClient $client,
         protected readonly bool $allowDisposable = false,
     ) {}
 
-    public function validate(string $attribute, mixed $value, Closure $fail): void
+    public function passes($attribute, $value): bool
     {
         if (! is_string($value) || ! filter_var($value, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {
-            $fail('The :attribute must be a valid email address.');
+            $this->failMessage = 'The :attribute must be a valid email address.';
 
-            return;
+            return false;
         }
 
         try {
@@ -26,10 +27,20 @@ class LeadMailVerify implements ValidationRule
 
             if (! ($result['data']['valid'] ?? true)) {
                 $reason = $result['data']['reason'] ?? 'verification failed';
-                $fail("The :attribute email address is not deliverable ({$reason}).");
+                $this->failMessage = "The :attribute email address is not deliverable ({$reason}).";
+
+                return false;
             }
+
+            return true;
         } catch (\Throwable) {
             // Fail open — if the verification service is down, allow the email through
+            return true;
         }
     }
+
+    public function message(): string
+    {
+        return $this->failMessage;
+    }
 }