diff --git a/docs/pages/release_notes.md b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
index c094f04a50..0068f262c7 100644
--- a/docs/pages/release_notes.md
+++ b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ Being based on a proper Antlr grammar, CPD can:
     *   [#1898](https://github.com/pmd/pmd/issues/1898): \[doc] Incorrect code example for DoubleBraceInitialization in documentation on website
     *   [#1906](https://github.com/pmd/pmd/issues/1906): \[doc] Broken link for adding own CPD languages
     *   [#1909](https://github.com/pmd/pmd/issues/1909): \[doc] Sample usage example refers to deprecated ruleset "basic.xml" instead of "quickstart.xml"
+*   java-multithreading
+    *   [#1903](https://github.com/pmd/pmd/issues/1903): \[java] UnsynchronizedStaticFormatter doesn't allow block-level synchronization when using allowMethodLevelSynchronization=true
 *   xml
     *   [#1666](https://github.com/pmd/pmd/issues/1666): \[xml] wrong cdata rule description and examples
 
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatterRule.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatterRule.java
index 4ea482bf6f..af9e04c26b 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatterRule.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatterRule.java
@@ -77,14 +77,7 @@ public class UnsynchronizedStaticFormatterRule extends AbstractJavaRule {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (getProperty(ALLOW_METHOD_LEVEL_SYNC)) {
-                ASTMethodDeclaration method = n.getFirstParentOfType(ASTMethodDeclaration.class);
-                if (method != null && (!method.isSynchronized() || !method.isStatic())) {
-                    addViolation(data, node);
-                }
-                continue;
-            }
-
+            // is there a block-level synch?
             ASTSynchronizedStatement syncStatement = n.getFirstParentOfType(ASTSynchronizedStatement.class);
             if (syncStatement != null) {
                 ASTExpression expression = syncStatement.getFirstChildOfType(ASTExpression.class);
@@ -95,6 +88,15 @@ public class UnsynchronizedStaticFormatterRule extends AbstractJavaRule {
                     }
                 }
             }
+            
+            // method level synch enabled and used?
+            if (getProperty(ALLOW_METHOD_LEVEL_SYNC)) {
+                ASTMethodDeclaration method = n.getFirstParentOfType(ASTMethodDeclaration.class);
+                if (method != null && method.isSynchronized() && method.isStatic()) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+            
             addViolation(data, n);
         }
         return data;
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/xml/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatter.xml b/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/xml/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatter.xml
index a97fa56f96..e8a0677f0c 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/xml/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatter.xml
+++ b/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/multithreading/xml/UnsynchronizedStaticFormatter.xml
@@ -258,6 +258,24 @@ public class Foo {
             sdf.format();
         }
     }
+}
+     ]]></code>
+    </test-code>
+    
+    <test-code>
+        <description>#1903 - Block synch is valid even with allowMethodLevelSynchronization</description>
+        <rule-property name="allowMethodLevelSynchronization">true</rule-property>
+        <expected-problems>0</expected-problems>
+        <code><![CDATA[
+import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
+
+public class Foo {
+    private static final SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat();
+    private void bar() {
+        synchronized(sdf) { 
+            sdf.format();
+        }
+    }
 }
      ]]></code>
     </test-code>