diff --git a/nimble/host/src/ble_sm.c b/nimble/host/src/ble_sm.c
index d405589dc..b4e8096a5 100644
--- a/nimble/host/src/ble_sm.c
+++ b/nimble/host/src/ble_sm.c
@@ -1886,6 +1886,9 @@ ble_sm_pair_rsp_rx(uint16_t conn_handle, struct os_mbuf **om,
         } else if (rsp->max_enc_key_size > BLE_SM_PAIR_KEY_SZ_MAX) {
             res->sm_err = BLE_SM_ERR_INVAL;
             res->app_status = BLE_HS_SM_US_ERR(BLE_SM_ERR_INVAL);
+        } else if (!ble_sm_verify_auth_requirements(rsp->authreq)) {
+            res->sm_err = BLE_SM_ERR_AUTHREQ;
+            res->app_status = BLE_HS_SM_US_ERR(BLE_SM_ERR_AUTHREQ);
         } else {
             ble_sm_pair_cfg(proc);