diff --git a/src/lerobot/configs/recipe.py b/src/lerobot/configs/recipe.py
index 4ce2ca3dd..43d90c1ce 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/configs/recipe.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/configs/recipe.py
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ class TrainingRecipe:
 
     messages: list[MessageTurn] | None = None
     bindings: dict[str, str] | None = None
-    requires: list[str] | None = None
     blend: dict[str, TrainingRecipe] | None = None
     weight: float | None = None
 
@@ -152,9 +151,6 @@ class TrainingRecipe:
         assert self.messages is not None
         known_bindings = set(DEFAULT_BINDINGS) | set(self.bindings or {}) | {"task"}
 
-        missing_requirements = set(self.requires or ()) - known_bindings
-        if missing_requirements:
-            raise ValueError(f"TrainingRecipe requires unknown binding(s): {sorted(missing_requirements)}")
         for turn in self.messages:
             missing = self._referenced_bindings(turn) - known_bindings
             if missing:
@@ -172,8 +168,6 @@ class TrainingRecipe:
     def _validate_blend_recipe(self) -> None:
         """Ensure each blend component is a non-empty, weighted message recipe."""
         assert self.blend is not None
-        if self.requires:
-            raise ValueError("A blend recipe cannot declare requires; set it on its components.")
         if not self.blend:
             raise ValueError("Blend recipes must contain at least one component.")
 
diff --git a/src/lerobot/datasets/language_render.py b/src/lerobot/datasets/language_render.py
index 0680733ca..624f19e9b 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/datasets/language_render.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/datasets/language_render.py
@@ -385,8 +385,6 @@ def _render_message_recipe(
 ) -> RenderedMessages | None:
     """Expand ``recipe.messages`` into rendered chat messages using ``bindings``."""
     assert recipe.messages is not None
-    if any(bindings.get(name) is None for name in recipe.requires or ()):
-        return None
     messages: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
     streams: list[str | None] = []
     target_indices: list[int] = []
diff --git a/tests/configs/test_recipe.py b/tests/configs/test_recipe.py
index 5174198df..7e9484628 100644
--- a/tests/configs/test_recipe.py
+++ b/tests/configs/test_recipe.py
@@ -57,14 +57,6 @@ def test_message_recipe_requires_at_least_one_target():
         )
 
 
-def test_message_recipe_requires_known_bindings():
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="requires unknown binding"):
-        TrainingRecipe(
-            messages=[_minimal_target_turn()],
-            requires=["not_a_binding"],
-        )
-
-
 def test_recipe_rejects_both_messages_and_blend():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="only one"):
         TrainingRecipe(