diff --git a/internal/gatewayapi/filters.go b/internal/gatewayapi/filters.go
index 98b8eea816d..b48beafc1ad 100644
--- a/internal/gatewayapi/filters.go
+++ b/internal/gatewayapi/filters.go
@@ -684,6 +684,12 @@ func (t *Translator) processExtensionRefHTTPFilter(extFilter *v1beta1.LocalObjec
 					t.processUnresolvedHTTPFilter(errMsg, filterContext)
 					return
 				}
+				if !t.GlobalRateLimitEnabled {
+					errMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Enable Ratelimit in the EnvoyGateway config to configure RateLimitFilter: %s/%s",
+						filterNs, extFilter.Name)
+					t.processUnresolvedHTTPFilter(errMsg, filterContext)
+					return
+				}
 				rateLimit := &ir.RateLimit{
 					Global: &ir.GlobalRateLimit{
 						Rules: make([]*ir.RateLimitRule, len(rateLimitFilter.Spec.Global.Rules)),
diff --git a/internal/gatewayapi/runner/runner.go b/internal/gatewayapi/runner/runner.go
index 24769c00197..36baacb2d0f 100644
--- a/internal/gatewayapi/runner/runner.go
+++ b/internal/gatewayapi/runner/runner.go
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ func (r *Runner) subscribeAndTranslate(ctx context.Context) {
 
 			// Translate and publish IRs.
 			t := &gatewayapi.Translator{
-				GatewayClassName: v1beta1.ObjectName(update.Key),
+				GatewayClassName:       v1beta1.ObjectName(update.Key),
+				GlobalRateLimitEnabled: r.EnvoyGateway.RateLimit != nil,
 			}
 			// Translate to IR
 			result := t.Translate(val)
diff --git a/internal/gatewayapi/translator.go b/internal/gatewayapi/translator.go
index 2d2e3126640..9f6084fa00b 100644
--- a/internal/gatewayapi/translator.go
+++ b/internal/gatewayapi/translator.go
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ type Translator struct {
 	// the Infra IR. If unspecified, the default proxy
 	// image will be used.
 	ProxyImage string
+
+	// GlobalRateLimitEnabled is true when global
+	// ratelimiting has been configured by the admin.
+	GlobalRateLimitEnabled bool
 }
 
 type TranslateResult struct {
diff --git a/internal/gatewayapi/translator_test.go b/internal/gatewayapi/translator_test.go
index 8651fa41068..9b3238c6828 100644
--- a/internal/gatewayapi/translator_test.go
+++ b/internal/gatewayapi/translator_test.go
@@ -47,8 +47,9 @@ func TestTranslate(t *testing.T) {
 			mustUnmarshal(t, string(output), want)
 
 			translator := &Translator{
-				GatewayClassName: "envoy-gateway-class",
-				ProxyImage:       "envoyproxy/envoy:translator-tests",
+				GatewayClassName:       "envoy-gateway-class",
+				ProxyImage:             "envoyproxy/envoy:translator-tests",
+				GlobalRateLimitEnabled: true,
 			}
 
 			// Add common test fixtures