diff --git a/dlt/sources/helpers/rest_client/paginators.py b/dlt/sources/helpers/rest_client/paginators.py
index 11efd0215a..b38665aa69 100644
--- a/dlt/sources/helpers/rest_client/paginators.py
+++ b/dlt/sources/helpers/rest_client/paginators.py
@@ -233,6 +233,8 @@ def __init__(
                 data is available. This allows you to limit the maximum number
                 of pages for pagination. Defaults to None.
         """
+        if total_path is None and maximum_page is None:
+            raise ValueError("Either `total_path` or `maximum_page` must be provided.")
         super().__init__(
             param_name=page_param,
             initial_value=initial_page,
@@ -321,6 +323,8 @@ def __init__(
                 even if more data is available. This allows you to limit the
                 maximum range for pagination. Defaults to None.
         """
+        if total_path is None and maximum_offset is None:
+            raise ValueError("Either `total_path` or `maximum_offset` must be provided.")
         super().__init__(
             param_name=offset_param,
             initial_value=offset,