diff --git a/.changelog/12881.txt b/.changelog/12881.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a2c5d90a57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/12881.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+```release-note:enhancement
+connect: add validation to ensure connect native services have a port or socketpath specified on catalog registration.
+This was the only missing piece to ensure all mesh services are validated for a port (or socketpath) specification on catalog registration.
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/agent/structs/structs.go b/agent/structs/structs.go
index 467c942742..b229e5ac91 100644
--- a/agent/structs/structs.go
+++ b/agent/structs/structs.go
@@ -1335,8 +1335,7 @@ func (s *NodeService) Validate() error {
 		}
 
 		if s.Port == 0 && s.SocketPath == "" {
-			result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf(
-				"Port or SocketPath must be set for a Connect proxy"))
+			result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf("Port or SocketPath must be set for a %s", s.Kind))
 		}
 
 		if s.Connect.Native {
@@ -1484,6 +1483,11 @@ func (s *NodeService) Validate() error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if s.Connect.Native && s.Port == 0 && s.SocketPath == "" {
+		result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf(
+			"Port or SocketPath must be set for a Connect native service."))
+	}
+
 	return result
 }
 
diff --git a/agent/structs/structs_test.go b/agent/structs/structs_test.go
index 94aa103be9..2164b10992 100644
--- a/agent/structs/structs_test.go
+++ b/agent/structs/structs_test.go
@@ -678,6 +678,10 @@ func TestStructs_NodeService_ValidateTerminatingGateway(t *testing.T) {
 			func(x *NodeService) { x.Proxy.Upstreams = []Upstream{{}} },
 			"Proxy.Upstreams configuration is invalid",
 		},
+		"port": {
+			func(x *NodeService) { x.Port = 0 },
+			"Port must be non-zero",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for name, tc := range cases {
@@ -845,7 +849,7 @@ func TestStructs_NodeService_ValidateConnectProxy(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			"connect-proxy: no port set",
 			func(x *NodeService) { x.Port = 0 },
-			"port or socketpath must",
+			fmt.Sprintf("Port or SocketPath must be set for a %s", ServiceKindConnectProxy),
 		},
 
 		{
@@ -1285,6 +1289,15 @@ func TestStructs_NodeService_ValidateSidecarService(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestStructs_NodeService_ConnectNativeEmptyPortError(t *testing.T) {
+	ns := TestNodeService(t)
+	ns.Connect.Native = true
+	ns.Port = 0
+	err := ns.Validate()
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "Port or SocketPath must be set for a Connect native service.")
+}
+
 func TestStructs_NodeService_IsSame(t *testing.T) {
 	ns := &NodeService{
 		ID:      "node1",