diff --git a/api/v1/invoice_items/read.php b/api/v1/invoice_items/read.php
index 4ec86e11..9b6a435b 100644
--- a/api/v1/invoice_items/read.php
+++ b/api/v1/invoice_items/read.php
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <?php
-
 /*
  * API - Invoice Items - Read
  * GET /api/v1/invoice_items/read.php
@@ -8,8 +7,9 @@
  *
  * Parameters (GET):
  *   api_key        required  - Your API key
- *   invoice_id     optional  - Return items for a single invoice
- *   item_id        optional  - Return a single line item by its own ID
+ *   invoice_id     required* - Return items for a single invoice
+ *   item_id        required* - Return a single line item by its own ID
+ *                  * One of invoice_id or item_id must be provided
  *   limit          optional  - Max rows to return (default 50)
  *   offset         optional  - Offset for pagination (default 0)
  *
@@ -22,16 +22,12 @@
  *     which causes the LIKE to match every client — consistent with other
  *     endpoints in this API.
  */
-
 require_once '../validate_api_key.php';
-
 require_once '../require_get_method.php';
 
-
 if (isset($_GET['item_id'])) {
     // Single line item by item_id — still JOIN to invoices to enforce client scope
     $item_id = intval($_GET['item_id']);
-
     $sql = mysqli_query($mysqli,
         "SELECT ii.*
          FROM invoice_items ii
@@ -40,11 +36,9 @@ if (isset($_GET['item_id'])) {
            AND i.invoice_client_id LIKE '$client_id'
          LIMIT 1"
     );
-
 } elseif (isset($_GET['invoice_id'])) {
     // All items on a specific invoice
     $invoice_id = intval($_GET['invoice_id']);
-
     $sql = mysqli_query($mysqli,
         "SELECT ii.*
          FROM invoice_items ii
@@ -54,17 +48,16 @@ if (isset($_GET['item_id'])) {
          ORDER BY ii.item_order ASC, ii.item_id ASC
          LIMIT $limit OFFSET $offset"
     );
-
 } else {
-    // All items across all invoices in scope (paginated)
-    $sql = mysqli_query($mysqli,
-        "SELECT ii.*
-         FROM invoice_items ii
-         INNER JOIN invoices i ON i.invoice_id = ii.item_invoice_id
-         WHERE i.invoice_client_id LIKE '$client_id'
-         ORDER BY ii.item_invoice_id ASC, ii.item_order ASC, ii.item_id ASC
-         LIMIT $limit OFFSET $offset"
-    );
+    // No filter supplied — reject the request
+    http_response_code(400);
+    echo json_encode([
+        'success' => 'False',
+        'message' => 'A filter is required. Please supply either invoice_id or item_id.',
+        'count'   => 0,
+        'data'    => []
+    ]);
+    exit;
 }
 
 // Output