diff --git a/docs/source/utilities/yaml_checker.rst b/docs/source/utilities/yaml_checker.rst
index ed3f744b3..97e73d972 100644
--- a/docs/source/utilities/yaml_checker.rst
+++ b/docs/source/utilities/yaml_checker.rst
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ other fields directly under the :code:`parameters` field.
 * We check methods exist for the given module path.
 * We check that the parameters for each method are valid. For example, :code:`find_center_vo` method from :code:`tomopy.recon.rotation` takes :code:`ratio` as a parameter with a float value. If you pass a string instead, it will raise an error. Again the trick is to refer the documentation always.
 * We check the required parameters for each method are present.
+* We check parameters that are omitted are not required (in particular, that omitted parameters
+  have a default value that can be assumed)
 * If you pass :code:`IN_DATA` (path to the data) along with the yaml config, as:
 
 .. code-block:: console
diff --git a/httomo/yaml_checker.py b/httomo/yaml_checker.py
index fe12b2e48..37fb1f399 100644
--- a/httomo/yaml_checker.py
+++ b/httomo/yaml_checker.py
@@ -220,6 +220,33 @@ def check_parameter_names_are_known(conf: PipelineConfig) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def check_omitted_parameters_are_not_required(conf: PipelineConfig) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check that any parameters omitted in method configs are not required.
+
+    Notes
+    -----
+    This check is functionally equivalent to checking that any parameters omitted in method
+    configs have default values.
+    """
+    template_yaml_conf = _get_template_yaml_conf(conf)
+    for config, template in zip(conf, template_yaml_conf):
+        template_param_dict = template["parameters"]
+        config_params = set(config.get("parameters", {}).keys())
+        template_params = set(template_param_dict.keys())
+        omitted_params = template_params - config_params
+
+        for param in omitted_params:
+            if template_param_dict[param] == "REQUIRED":
+                err_str = (
+                    f"The parameter '{param}' for '{config["method"]}' was omitted but is "
+                    "required."
+                )
+                _print_with_colour(err_str)
+                return False
+    return True
+
+
 def check_parameter_names_are_str(conf: PipelineConfig) -> bool:
     """Parameter names should be type string"""
     non_str_param_names = {
@@ -465,6 +492,7 @@ def validate_yaml_config(yaml_file: Path, in_file: Optional[Path] = None) -> boo
     side_out_matches_ref_arg = check_side_out_matches_ref_arg(conf)
     required_keys_present = check_keys(conf)
     are_required_parameters_missing = check_no_required_parameter_values(conf)
+    are_omitted_params_required = check_omitted_parameters_are_not_required(conf)
 
     all_checks_pass = (
         is_yaml_ok
@@ -479,6 +507,7 @@ def validate_yaml_config(yaml_file: Path, in_file: Optional[Path] = None) -> boo
         and side_out_matches_ref_arg
         and required_keys_present
         and are_required_parameters_missing
+        and are_omitted_params_required
     )
 
     if not all_checks_pass:
diff --git a/tests/samples/pipeline_template_examples/testing/omitted_required_param.yaml b/tests/samples/pipeline_template_examples/testing/omitted_required_param.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ec8f92f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/samples/pipeline_template_examples/testing/omitted_required_param.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+- method: standard_tomo
+  module_path: httomo.data.hdf.loaders
+  parameters:
+    data_path: auto
+    image_key_path: auto
+    rotation_angles: auto
+- method: distortion_correction_proj_discorpy
+  module_path: httomolibgpu.prep.alignment
+  parameters:
+    order: 3
+    mode: constant
diff --git a/tests/test_yaml_checker.py b/tests/test_yaml_checker.py
index 20543a1f5..b7a719b24 100644
--- a/tests/test_yaml_checker.py
+++ b/tests/test_yaml_checker.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     check_first_method_is_loader,
     check_hdf5_paths_against_loader,
     check_methods_exist_in_templates,
+    check_omitted_parameters_are_not_required,
     check_parameter_names_are_known,
     check_parameter_names_are_str,
     check_no_required_parameter_values,
@@ -120,6 +121,14 @@ def test_check_no_required_parameter_values(sample_pipelines: str, load_yaml: Ca
     assert not check_no_required_parameter_values(conf)
 
 
+def test_check_omitted_parameters_are_not_required(
+    sample_pipelines: str, load_yaml: Callable
+):
+    pipeline = sample_pipelines + "testing/omitted_required_param.yaml"
+    conf = load_yaml(pipeline)
+    assert not check_omitted_parameters_are_not_required(conf)
+
+
 def test_check_no_duplicated_keys(sample_pipelines: str, load_yaml: Callable):
     required_param_pipeline = sample_pipelines + "testing/duplicated_key.yaml"
     assert not check_no_duplicated_keys(Path(required_param_pipeline))