diff --git a/src/data-loaders/defineColadaLoader.ts b/src/data-loaders/defineColadaLoader.ts
index a30379412..dbbdc3070 100644
--- a/src/data-loaders/defineColadaLoader.ts
+++ b/src/data-loaders/defineColadaLoader.ts
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ import {
   trackRoute,
   IS_SSR_KEY,
 } from 'unplugin-vue-router/data-loaders'
-import {} from './utils'
-import { type ShallowRef, shallowRef, watch } from 'vue'
+import { getCurrentInstance, type ShallowRef, shallowRef, watch } from 'vue'
 import {
   type EntryKey,
   type UseQueryOptions,
@@ -396,6 +395,16 @@ export function defineColadaLoader<Data>(
       | DataLoaderColadaEntry<Data, ErrorDefault>
       | undefined
 
+    if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
+      const isNavigating = !!router[PENDING_LOCATION_KEY]
+      const componentInstance = getCurrentInstance()
+      if (!isNavigating && !entry && !options.lazy && componentInstance) {
+        console.warn(
+          `[unplugin-vue-router] The "${options.key ?? '<unnamed>'}" loader is not lazy and is not exposed by a route. Either make it lazy or export it from the page.\nLearn more at https://uvr.esm.is/data-loaders/defining-loaders.html#connecting-a-loader-to-a-page`
+        )
+      }
+    }
+
     if (
       // if the entry doesn't exist, create it with load and ensure it's loading
       !entry ||
diff --git a/src/data-loaders/defineLoader.ts b/src/data-loaders/defineLoader.ts
index 6d76d4c6e..0fd349c58 100644
--- a/src/data-loaders/defineLoader.ts
+++ b/src/data-loaders/defineLoader.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import {
   IS_SSR_KEY,
 } from 'unplugin-vue-router/data-loaders'
 
-import { shallowRef } from 'vue'
+import { getCurrentInstance, shallowRef } from 'vue'
 import {
   DefineDataLoaderOptionsBase_DefinedData,
   toLazyValue,
@@ -337,6 +337,16 @@ export function defineBasicLoader<Data>(
     // console.log('is same route', entry?.pendingTo === route)
     // console.log('-- END --')
 
+    if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') {
+      const isNavigating = !!router[PENDING_LOCATION_KEY]
+      const componentInstance = getCurrentInstance()
+      if (!isNavigating && !entry && !options.lazy && componentInstance) {
+        console.warn(
+          `[unplugin-vue-router] The "${options.key ?? '<unnamed>'}" loader is not lazy and is not exposed by a route. Either make it lazy or export it from the page.\nLearn more at https://uvr.esm.is/data-loaders/defining-loaders.html#connecting-a-loader-to-a-page`
+        )
+      }
+    }
+
     if (
       // if the entry doesn't exist, create it with load and ensure it's loading
       !entry ||
diff --git a/tests/data-loaders/tester.ts b/tests/data-loaders/tester.ts
index 160399ec9..2b7b9c6d9 100644
--- a/tests/data-loaders/tester.ts
+++ b/tests/data-loaders/tester.ts
@@ -466,6 +466,42 @@ export function testDefineLoader<Context = void>(
     }
   )
 
+  it('warns if a non lazy loader is used in a component but was not exposed by the page', async () => {
+    const l1 = mockedLoader({ lazy: false, key: 'l1' })
+    const router = getRouter()
+    router.addRoute({
+      name: 'a',
+      path: '/a',
+      component: defineComponent({
+        setup() {
+          const { data } = l1.loader()
+          return { data }
+        },
+        template: `<p>{{ data }}</p>`,
+      }),
+      // no loaders
+      meta: { loaders: [] },
+    })
+
+    l1.spy.mockResolvedValue('ok')
+
+    mount(() => h(RouterViewMock), {
+      global: {
+        plugins: [
+          [DataLoaderPlugin, { router }],
+          ...(plugins?.(customContext!) || []),
+        ],
+      },
+    })
+
+    await router.push('/a')
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    expect(
+      `https://uvr.esm.is/data-loaders/defining-loaders.html#connecting-a-loader-to-a-page`
+    ).toHaveBeenWarned()
+  })
+
   it('passes a signal to the loader', async () => {
     const spy =
       vi.fn<