diff --git a/docling/cli/main.py b/docling/cli/main.py
index b0204151..c87e311f 100644
--- a/docling/cli/main.py
+++ b/docling/cli/main.py
@@ -532,7 +532,9 @@ def convert(
                 backend=backend,  # pdf_backend
             )
         elif pipeline == PdfPipeline.VLM:
-            pipeline_options = VlmPipelineOptions()
+            pipeline_options = VlmPipelineOptions(
+                enable_remote_services=enable_remote_services,
+            )
 
             if vlm_model == VlmModelType.GRANITE_VISION:
                 pipeline_options.vlm_options = granite_vision_vlm_conversion_options
diff --git a/docling/models/api_vlm_model.py b/docling/models/api_vlm_model.py
index 8562bd14..95201224 100644
--- a/docling/models/api_vlm_model.py
+++ b/docling/models/api_vlm_model.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from typing import Iterable
 from docling.datamodel.base_models import Page, VlmPrediction
 from docling.datamodel.document import ConversionResult
 from docling.datamodel.pipeline_options import ApiVlmOptions
+from docling.exceptions import OperationNotAllowed
 from docling.models.base_model import BasePageModel
 from docling.utils.api_image_request import api_image_request
 from docling.utils.profiling import TimeRecorder
@@ -13,11 +14,19 @@ class ApiVlmModel(BasePageModel):
     def __init__(
         self,
         enabled: bool,
+        enable_remote_services: bool,
         vlm_options: ApiVlmOptions,
     ):
         self.enabled = enabled
         self.vlm_options = vlm_options
         if self.enabled:
+            if not enable_remote_services:
+                raise OperationNotAllowed(
+                    "Connections to remote services is only allowed when set explicitly. "
+                    "pipeline_options.enable_remote_services=True, or using the CLI "
+                    "--enable-remote-services."
+                )
+
             self.timeout = self.vlm_options.timeout
             self.prompt_content = (
                 f"This is a page from a document.\n{self.vlm_options.prompt}"
diff --git a/docling/pipeline/vlm_pipeline.py b/docling/pipeline/vlm_pipeline.py
index c1504be3..79279fd0 100644
--- a/docling/pipeline/vlm_pipeline.py
+++ b/docling/pipeline/vlm_pipeline.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ class VlmPipeline(PaginatedPipeline):
             self.build_pipe = [
                 ApiVlmModel(
                     enabled=True,  # must be always enabled for this pipeline to make sense.
+                    enable_remote_services=self.pipeline_options.enable_remote_services,
                     vlm_options=cast(ApiVlmOptions, self.pipeline_options.vlm_options),
                 ),
             ]
diff --git a/docs/examples/vlm_pipeline_api_model.py b/docs/examples/vlm_pipeline_api_model.py
index bc71af38..33fb72a2 100644
--- a/docs/examples/vlm_pipeline_api_model.py
+++ b/docs/examples/vlm_pipeline_api_model.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def main():
     input_doc_path = Path("./tests/data/pdf/2305.03393v1-pg9.pdf")
 
     pipeline_options = VlmPipelineOptions(
-        # enable_remote_services=True  # <-- this is required!
+        enable_remote_services=True  # <-- this is required!
     )
 
     # The ApiVlmOptions() allows to interface with APIs supporting