diff --git a/prdoc/pr_5240.prdoc b/prdoc/pr_5240.prdoc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3622a6ada76b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prdoc/pr_5240.prdoc
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+title: Warn on empty public-addr when starting a validator node
+
+doc:
+  - audience: Node Operator
+    description: |
+      This PR shows a warning when the `--public-addr` CLI parameter is missing for validators.
+      In the future, we'll transform this warning into a hard failure.
+      Validators are encouraged to provide this parameter for better availability over the network.
+
+crates:
+  - name: sc-cli
+    bump: patch
diff --git a/substrate/client/cli/src/config.rs b/substrate/client/cli/src/config.rs
index 283148a6d6ad..406d1fb264dd 100644
--- a/substrate/client/cli/src/config.rs
+++ b/substrate/client/cli/src/config.rs
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ pub trait CliConfiguration<DCV: DefaultConfigurationValues = ()>: Sized {
 		node_key: NodeKeyConfig,
 		default_listen_port: u16,
 	) -> Result<NetworkConfiguration> {
-		Ok(if let Some(network_params) = self.network_params() {
+		let network_config = if let Some(network_params) = self.network_params() {
 			network_params.network_config(
 				chain_spec,
 				is_dev,
@@ -185,7 +185,13 @@ pub trait CliConfiguration<DCV: DefaultConfigurationValues = ()>: Sized {
 			)
 		} else {
 			NetworkConfiguration::new(node_name, client_id, node_key, Some(net_config_dir))
-		})
+		};
+
+		// TODO: Return error here in the next release:
+		// https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk/issues/5266
+		// if is_validator && network_config.public_addresses.is_empty() {}
+
+		Ok(network_config)
 	}
 
 	/// Get the keystore configuration.
@@ -638,6 +644,14 @@ pub trait CliConfiguration<DCV: DefaultConfigurationValues = ()>: Sized {
 
 		logger.init()?;
 
+		if config.role.is_authority() && config.network.public_addresses.is_empty() {
+			warn!(
+				"WARNING: No public address specified, validator node may not be reachable.
+				Consider setting `--public-addr` to the public IP address of this node.
+				This will become a hard requirement in future versions."
+			);
+		}
+
 		match fdlimit::raise_fd_limit() {
 			Ok(fdlimit::Outcome::LimitRaised { to, .. }) =>
 				if to < RECOMMENDED_OPEN_FILE_DESCRIPTOR_LIMIT {