diff --git a/internal/object-controller/controllers/clusterobjectset_controller.go b/internal/object-controller/controllers/clusterobjectset_controller.go
index 1962bb4758..94ffca3e4e 100644
--- a/internal/object-controller/controllers/clusterobjectset_controller.go
+++ b/internal/object-controller/controllers/clusterobjectset_controller.go
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func (c *ClusterObjectSetReconciler) reconcile(ctx context.Context, cos *ocv1.Cl
 	// or a dependency CRD still propagating), and those inputs are not watched.
 	if verr := rres.GetValidationError(); verr != nil {
 		l.Error(fmt.Errorf("%w", verr), "preflight validation failed, retrying after 10s")
-		markAsNotReady(cos, ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonPreconditionsNotMet, fmt.Sprintf("A pre-apply check rejected the revision: %v.", verr))
+		markAsNotReady(cos, ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonPreconditionsNotMet, fmt.Sprintf("A preflight check rejected the revision: %v.", verr))
 		return ctrl.Result{RequeueAfter: validationRetryInterval}, nil
 	}
 
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ func (c *ClusterObjectSetReconciler) reconcile(ctx context.Context, cos *ocv1.Cl
 				continue
 			}
 			l.Error(fmt.Errorf("%w", verr), "phase preflight validation failed, retrying after 10s", "phase", pres.GetName())
-			markAsNotReady(cos, ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonPreconditionsNotMet, fmt.Sprintf("A pre-apply check rejected phase %q: %v.", pres.GetName(), verr))
+			markAsNotReady(cos, ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonPreconditionsNotMet, fmt.Sprintf("A preflight check rejected phase %q: %v.", pres.GetName(), verr))
 			return ctrl.Result{RequeueAfter: validationRetryInterval}, nil
 		}
 
diff --git a/internal/operator-controller/controllers/common_controller.go b/internal/operator-controller/controllers/common_controller.go
index 327cc60275..9c037df3e7 100644
--- a/internal/operator-controller/controllers/common_controller.go
+++ b/internal/operator-controller/controllers/common_controller.go
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func setProgressingFromReady(ext *ocv1.ClusterExtension, readyCond *metav1.Condi
 // Rationale:
 //   - Failed: Semantically indicates an error prevented installation
 //   - Absent: Semantically indicates "not there yet" (neutral state, e.g., during healthy rollout)
-//   - ObjectCollision (a foreign owner), PreconditionsNotMet (a pre-apply precondition not yet met),
+//   - ObjectCollision (a foreign owner), PreconditionsNotMet (a preflight precondition not yet met),
 //     or InvalidSpecification (an invalid revision spec) on Ready indicates an error
 //   - A transient error leaves the Ready condition unchanged (or absent), so it maps to Absent, not Failed
 //   - Other Ready reasons indicate healthy progress or terminal states handled elsewhere
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func determineFailureReason(rollingRevisions []*RevisionMetadata) string {
 	latestRevision := rollingRevisions[len(rollingRevisions)-1]
 	readyCond := apimeta.FindStatusCondition(latestRevision.Conditions, ocv1.ClusterObjectSetTypeReady)
 	// ObjectCollision (an object is owned by another revision/controller),
-	// PreconditionsNotMet (a pre-apply precondition not yet met), or InvalidSpecification
+	// PreconditionsNotMet (a preflight precondition not yet met), or InvalidSpecification
 	// (an invalid revision spec) on the Ready condition all indicate an error prevented installation.
 	if readyCond != nil && (readyCond.Reason == ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonObjectCollision ||
 		readyCond.Reason == ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonPreconditionsNotMet ||
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func progressingFromReady(ready *metav1.Condition, completed bool) metav1.Condit
 		cond.Status = metav1.ConditionFalse
 		cond.Reason = ocv1.ReasonProgressDeadlineExceeded
 	case ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonObjectCollision, ocv1.ClusterObjectSetReasonPreconditionsNotMet:
-		// A foreign-owned object (ObjectCollision) or an unmet pre-apply precondition
+		// A foreign-owned object (ObjectCollision) or an unmet preflight precondition
 		// (PreconditionsNotMet) prevents the rollout from proceeding, but the revision keeps
 		// retrying and recovers once the obstruction clears.
 		cond.Reason = ocv1.ReasonRetrying
diff --git a/test/e2e/features/cos_static_validation.feature b/test/e2e/features/cos_static_validation.feature
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..42e332ed27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/features/cos_static_validation.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+@BoxcutterRuntime
+Feature: ClusterObjectSet static preflight validation
+
+  As an OLM user applying a ClusterObjectSet directly, I want the revision to be
+  rejected with an actionable PreconditionsNotMet condition when its objects fail
+  the preflight validation checks, so that malformed revisions surface clearly
+  instead of being silently accepted.
+
+  Background:
+    Given OLM is available
+
+  Scenario: ClusterObjectSet reports PreconditionsNotMet when the same object appears in multiple phases
+    Given namespace "${TEST_NAMESPACE}" is available
+    When ClusterObjectSet is applied
+      """
+      apiVersion: olm.operatorframework.io/v1
+      kind: ClusterObjectSet
+      metadata:
+        name: ${COS_NAME}
+      spec:
+        group: ${NAME}
+        lifecycleState: Active
+        collisionProtection: Prevent
+        phases:
+        - name: phase-a
+          objects:
+          - object:
+              apiVersion: v1
+              kind: ConfigMap
+              metadata:
+                name: dup-cm
+                namespace: ${TEST_NAMESPACE}
+              data:
+                k: v
+        - name: phase-b
+          objects:
+          - object:
+              apiVersion: v1
+              kind: ConfigMap
+              metadata:
+                name: dup-cm
+                namespace: ${TEST_NAMESPACE}
+              data:
+                k: v
+        revision: 1
+      """
+    Then ClusterObjectSet "${COS_NAME}" reports Ready as False with Reason PreconditionsNotMet and Message includes:
+    """
+      A preflight check rejected the revision: revision "${COS_NAME}" (1): phase "phase-a": /v1, Kind=ConfigMap ${TEST_NAMESPACE}/dup-cm: duplicate object found in phases: phase-a, phase-b
+    """
+
+  Scenario: ClusterObjectSet reports PreconditionsNotMet when an object manifest carries ownerReferences
+    Given namespace "${TEST_NAMESPACE}" is available
+    When ClusterObjectSet is applied
+      """
+      apiVersion: olm.operatorframework.io/v1
+      kind: ClusterObjectSet
+      metadata:
+        name: ${COS_NAME}
+      spec:
+        group: ${NAME}
+        lifecycleState: Active
+        collisionProtection: Prevent
+        phases:
+        - name: phase-a
+          objects:
+          - object:
+              apiVersion: v1
+              kind: ConfigMap
+              metadata:
+                name: meta-cm
+                namespace: ${TEST_NAMESPACE}
+                ownerReferences:
+                - apiVersion: v1
+                  kind: ConfigMap
+                  name: some-owner
+                  uid: "11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111"
+                  controller: true
+              data:
+                k: v
+        revision: 1
+      """
+    Then ClusterObjectSet "${COS_NAME}" reports Ready as False with Reason PreconditionsNotMet and Message includes:
+    """
+      A preflight check rejected the revision: revision "${COS_NAME}" (1): phase "phase-a": /v1, Kind=ConfigMap ${TEST_NAMESPACE}/meta-cm: metadata.ownerReferences: Forbidden: must be empty.
+    """