diff --git a/netbox/netbox/api/exceptions.py b/netbox/netbox/api/exceptions.py
index f552b06b5..c4d05d1a5 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/api/exceptions.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/api/exceptions.py
@@ -12,3 +12,7 @@ class SerializerNotFound(Exception):
 
 class GraphQLTypeNotFound(Exception):
     pass
+
+
+class QuerySetNotOrdered(Exception):
+    pass
diff --git a/netbox/netbox/api/pagination.py b/netbox/netbox/api/pagination.py
index f1430a9fd..698e0a8dd 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/api/pagination.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/api/pagination.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from django.db.models import QuerySet
 from rest_framework.pagination import LimitOffsetPagination
 
+from netbox.api.exceptions import QuerySetNotOrdered
 from netbox.config import get_config
 
 
@@ -15,6 +16,12 @@ class OptionalLimitOffsetPagination(LimitOffsetPagination):
 
     def paginate_queryset(self, queryset, request, view=None):
 
+        if isinstance(queryset, QuerySet) and not queryset.ordered:
+            raise QuerySetNotOrdered(
+                "Paginating over an unordered queryset is unreliable. Ensure that a minimal "
+                "ordering has been applied to the queryset for this API endpoint."
+            )
+
         if isinstance(queryset, QuerySet):
             self.count = self.get_queryset_count(queryset)
         else: