diff --git a/app/frontend/entrypoints/pages/bed_verification.js b/app/frontend/entrypoints/pages/bed_verification.js
index d2d97d82f3..76497ff902 100644
--- a/app/frontend/entrypoints/pages/bed_verification.js
+++ b/app/frontend/entrypoints/pages/bed_verification.js
@@ -129,10 +129,17 @@ const fail = function () {
 }
 
 $('#plate_scan').on('change', function () {
-  let plate_barcode, bed_barcode, robot_barcode
-  plate_barcode = this.value
-  bed_barcode = $('#bed_scan').val()
-  robot_barcode = $('#robot_scan').val()
+  let bed_barcode = $('#bed_scan').val()
+  if (!bed_barcode) {
+    SCAPE.message('Scan the bed before the plate please!', 'warning')
+    $('#bed_scan').focus()
+    this.value = ''
+    return
+  }
+  // clear the message field if we have a bed barcode
+  SCAPE.message('', '')
+  let plate_barcode = this.value
+  let robot_barcode = $('#robot_scan').val()
   SCAPE.robot_scan = robot_barcode
   this.value = ''
   $('#bed_scan').val('')
diff --git a/app/frontend/entrypoints/pages/bed_verification.spec.js b/app/frontend/entrypoints/pages/bed_verification.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b818111cdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/frontend/entrypoints/pages/bed_verification.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import $ from 'jquery'
+import SCAPE from '@/javascript/lib/global_message_system.js'
+
+describe('bed_verification plate scan handler', () => {
+  let plateScan, bedScan, robotScan
+
+  // NB. use of beforeAll is not ideal but could not get beforeEach to work.
+  // Deemed acceptable in this case as the two tests could mimic a sequence that could happen in
+  // real life.
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    // Set up DOM elements
+    document.body.innerHTML = `
+			<input id="plate_scan" />
+			<input id="bed_scan" />
+			<input id="robot_scan" />
+		`
+    plateScan = $('#plate_scan')
+    bedScan = $('#bed_scan')
+    robotScan = $('#robot_scan')
+
+    // Mock SCAPE.message
+    SCAPE.message = vi.fn()
+
+    // Import and attach the handler
+    await import('./bed_verification.js')
+  })
+
+  it('shows warning and does not scan plate if bed_scan is empty', () => {
+    bedScan.val('')
+    plateScan.val('PLATE123')
+    plateScan.trigger('change')
+
+    // We expect a message on screen requesting user scan the bed first
+    expect(SCAPE.message).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Scan the bed before the plate please!', 'warning')
+  })
+
+  it('clears warning and scans plate if bed_scan has value', () => {
+    robotScan.val('ROBOT123')
+    bedScan.val('BED123')
+    plateScan.val('PLATE123')
+    plateScan.trigger('change')
+
+    // We clear the message field if we have a bed barcode, so we expect an empty message to be sent
+    expect(SCAPE.message).toHaveBeenCalledWith('', '')
+  })
+})