diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7eb545ffe..fdbe7a402 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # Unreleased
   - Changes from 5.27.1
+    - API:
+      - CHANGED: Require a `radius` parameter when using `bearings`. [#6572](https://github.com/Project-OSRM/osrm-backend/pull/6572)
     - Features
       - ADDED: Route pedestrians over highway=platform [#6993](https://github.com/Project-OSRM/osrm-backend/pull/6993)
       - REMOVED: Remove all core-CH left-overs [#6920](https://github.com/Project-OSRM/osrm-backend/pull/6920)
diff --git a/docs/http.md b/docs/http.md
index 9e6649d73..c54e9e39d 100644
--- a/docs/http.md
+++ b/docs/http.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ To pass parameters to each location some options support an array-like encoding:
 
 | Option         | Values                                                 | Description                                                                                                                                                                                               |
 |----------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-|bearings        |`{bearing};{bearing}[;{bearing} ...]`                   |Limits the search to segments with given bearing in degrees towards true north in a clockwise direction.                                                                                                     |
+|bearings        |`{bearing};{bearing}[;{bearing} ...]`                   |Limits the search to segments with given bearing in degrees towards true north in a clockwise direction. Requires a corresponding radius or set default_radius flag.                                                                                                     |
 |radiuses        |`{radius};{radius}[;{radius} ...]`                      |Limits the search to given radius in meters.                                                                                                                                                               |
 |generate\_hints |`true` (default), `false`                               |Adds a Hint to the response which can be used in subsequent requests, see `hints` parameter.                                                                                                               |
 |hints           |`{hint};{hint}[;{hint} ...]`                            |Hint from previous request to derive position in street network.                                                                                                                                           |
diff --git a/include/nodejs/node_osrm_support.hpp b/include/nodejs/node_osrm_support.hpp
index f428308e5..5a185ce87 100644
--- a/include/nodejs/node_osrm_support.hpp
+++ b/include/nodejs/node_osrm_support.hpp
@@ -591,6 +591,14 @@ inline bool argumentsToParameter(const Napi::CallbackInfo &args,
             return false;
         }
 
+        if (!obj.Has("radiuses") && default_radius.IsUndefined())
+        {
+            ThrowError(
+                args.Env(),
+                "Bearings must be accompanied with radiuses or a default_radius must be set.");
+            return false;
+        }
+
         auto bearings_array = bearings.As<Napi::Array>();
 
         if (bearings_array.Length() != params->coordinates.size())
diff --git a/src/engine/plugins/match.cpp b/src/engine/plugins/match.cpp
index 6fe8f6699..fb780ef27 100644
--- a/src/engine/plugins/match.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/plugins/match.cpp
@@ -132,6 +132,13 @@ Status MatchPlugin::HandleRequest(const RoutingAlgorithmsInterface &algorithms,
         return Error("InvalidValue", "Invalid coordinate value.", result);
     }
 
+    if (!parameters.bearings.empty() && !default_radius.has_value() &&
+        parameters.radiuses.size() != parameters.bearings.size())
+    {
+        return Error(
+            "InvalidOptions", "Number of radiuses does not match number of bearings", result);
+    }
+
     if (max_radius_map_matching > 0 && std::any_of(parameters.radiuses.begin(),
                                                    parameters.radiuses.end(),
                                                    [&](const auto &radius)
diff --git a/src/engine/plugins/nearest.cpp b/src/engine/plugins/nearest.cpp
index b8d43a5a6..93c3086db 100644
--- a/src/engine/plugins/nearest.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/plugins/nearest.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ Status NearestPlugin::HandleRequest(const RoutingAlgorithmsInterface &algorithms
         return Error("InvalidOptions", "Only one input coordinate is supported", result);
     }
 
+    if (!params.bearings.empty() && !default_radius.has_value() &&
+        params.radiuses.size() != params.bearings.size())
+    {
+        return Error(
+            "InvalidOptions", "Number of radiuses does not match number of bearings", result);
+    }
+
     auto phantom_nodes = GetPhantomNodes(facade, params, params.number_of_results);
 
     if (phantom_nodes.front().size() == 0)
diff --git a/src/engine/plugins/table.cpp b/src/engine/plugins/table.cpp
index 5fd214c1a..199e4a999 100644
--- a/src/engine/plugins/table.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/plugins/table.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,13 @@ Status TablePlugin::HandleRequest(const RoutingAlgorithmsInterface &algorithms,
             "InvalidOptions", "Number of bearings does not match number of coordinates", result);
     }
 
+    if (!params.bearings.empty() && !default_radius.has_value() &&
+        params.radiuses.size() != params.bearings.size())
+    {
+        return Error(
+            "InvalidOptions", "Number of radiuses does not match number of bearings", result);
+    }
+
     // Empty sources or destinations means the user wants all of them included, respectively
     // The ManyToMany routing algorithm we dispatch to below already handles this perfectly.
     const auto num_sources =
diff --git a/src/engine/plugins/viaroute.cpp b/src/engine/plugins/viaroute.cpp
index a59a2c467..00f4fbb13 100644
--- a/src/engine/plugins/viaroute.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/plugins/viaroute.cpp
@@ -82,6 +82,13 @@ Status ViaRoutePlugin::HandleRequest(const RoutingAlgorithmsInterface &algorithm
     if (!CheckAlgorithms(route_parameters, algorithms, result))
         return Status::Error;
 
+    if (!route_parameters.bearings.empty() && !default_radius.has_value() &&
+        route_parameters.radiuses.size() != route_parameters.bearings.size())
+    {
+        return Error(
+            "InvalidOptions", "Number of radiuses does not match number of bearings", result);
+    }
+
     const auto &facade = algorithms.GetFacade();
     auto phantom_node_pairs = GetPhantomNodes(facade, route_parameters);
     if (phantom_node_pairs.size() != route_parameters.coordinates.size())