diff --git a/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references.go b/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references.go
index 42c22b61533..2c0417deddf 100644
--- a/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references.go
+++ b/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references.go
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ type resolveVariableReferences struct {
 	// outside of 'resources'.
 	includeResources bool
 
-	artifactsReferenceUsed bool
+	artifactsReferenceUsed   bool
+	validateVolumeSchemaRefs bool
 
 	// excludePaths lists variable reference paths (e.g. "workspace.file_path") whose
 	// resolution should be skipped. References to these paths remain unresolved so a
@@ -103,11 +104,12 @@ func ResolveVariableReferencesInLookup() bundle.Mutator {
 // ResolveVolumePathReferencesOnlyResources resolves only references to resources.volumes.*.volume_path.
 func ResolveVolumePathReferencesOnlyResources() bundle.Mutator {
 	return &resolveVariableReferences{
-		prefixes:         []string{"resources"},
-		lookupFn:         lookup,
-		allowPathFn:      isVolumePathReferencePath,
-		extraRounds:      maxResolutionRounds - 1,
-		includeResources: true,
+		prefixes:                 []string{"resources"},
+		lookupFn:                 lookup,
+		allowPathFn:              isVolumePathReferencePath,
+		extraRounds:              maxResolutionRounds - 1,
+		includeResources:         true,
+		validateVolumeSchemaRefs: true,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -169,6 +171,12 @@ func (m *resolveVariableReferences) Apply(ctx context.Context, b *bundle.Bundle)
 	varPath := dyn.NewPath(dyn.Key("var"))
 
 	var diags diag.Diagnostics
+	if m.validateVolumeSchemaRefs {
+		diags = diags.Extend(validateVolumeSchemaReferences(b))
+		if diags.HasError() {
+			return diags
+		}
+	}
 	maxRounds := 1 + m.extraRounds
 
 	for round := range maxRounds {
@@ -201,6 +209,28 @@ func (m *resolveVariableReferences) Apply(ctx context.Context, b *bundle.Bundle)
 	return diags
 }
 
+func validateVolumeSchemaReferences(b *bundle.Bundle) diag.Diagnostics {
+	var diags diag.Diagnostics
+	for _, volume := range b.Config.Resources.Volumes {
+		if volume == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, value := range []string{volume.SchemaName, volume.CatalogName} {
+			_, _ = dynvar.Resolve(dyn.V(value), func(path dyn.Path) (dyn.Value, error) {
+				if len(path) > 0 && path[0].Key() == "schemas" {
+					diags = diags.Append(diag.Diagnostic{
+						Severity: diag.Error,
+						Summary:  fmt.Sprintf("reference does not exist: ${%s}", path.String()),
+						Detail:   fmt.Sprintf("did you mean:\n  ${resources.%s}", path.String()),
+					})
+				}
+				return dyn.InvalidValue, dynvar.ErrSkipResolution
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	return diags
+}
+
 func (m *resolveVariableReferences) resolveOnce(b *bundle.Bundle, prefixes []dyn.Path, varPath dyn.Path) (bool, diag.Diagnostics) {
 	var diags diag.Diagnostics
 	hasUpdates := false
diff --git a/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references_test.go b/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references_test.go
index 284b78846b4..80be93f6ecf 100644
--- a/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references_test.go
+++ b/bundle/config/mutator/resolve_variable_references_test.go
@@ -105,6 +105,50 @@ func TestResolveVolumePathReferencesOnlyResources_MissingTarget(t *testing.T) {
 	require.ErrorContains(t, diags.Error(), "reference does not exist: ${resources.volumes.missing.volume_path}")
 }
 
+func TestResolveVolumePathReferencesOnlyResources_RejectsUnprefixedSchemaReferences(t *testing.T) {
+	b := &bundle.Bundle{
+		Config: config.Root{
+			Resources: config.Resources{
+				Schemas: map[string]*resources.Schema{"test": {}},
+				Volumes: map[string]*resources.Volume{"foo": {}},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	volume := b.Config.Resources.Volumes["foo"]
+	volume.SchemaName = "${schemas.test.name}"
+	volume.CatalogName = "${schemas.test.catalog_name}"
+
+	diags := bundle.Apply(t.Context(), b, ResolveVolumePathReferencesOnlyResources())
+	require.Len(t, diags, 2)
+	require.Error(t, diags.Error())
+	require.Equal(t, "reference does not exist: ${schemas.test.name}", diags[0].Summary)
+	require.Equal(t, "did you mean:\n  ${resources.schemas.test.name}", diags[0].Detail)
+	require.Equal(t, "reference does not exist: ${schemas.test.catalog_name}", diags[1].Summary)
+	require.Equal(t, "did you mean:\n  ${resources.schemas.test.catalog_name}", diags[1].Detail)
+
+	b = &bundle.Bundle{
+		Config: config.Root{
+			Resources: config.Resources{
+				Schemas: map[string]*resources.Schema{"test": {}},
+				Volumes: map[string]*resources.Volume{"foo": {}},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	schema := b.Config.Resources.Schemas["test"]
+	schema.Name = "myschema"
+	schema.CatalogName = "main"
+	volume = b.Config.Resources.Volumes["foo"]
+	volume.SchemaName = "${resources.schemas.test.name}"
+	volume.CatalogName = "${resources.schemas.test.catalog_name}"
+
+	diags = bundle.Apply(t.Context(), b, ResolveVolumePathReferencesOnlyResources())
+	require.NoError(t, diags.Error())
+	diags = bundle.Apply(t.Context(), b, ResolveVariableReferencesOnlyResources("resources"))
+	require.NoError(t, diags.Error())
+	require.Equal(t, "myschema", b.Config.Resources.Volumes["foo"].SchemaName)
+	require.Equal(t, "main", b.Config.Resources.Volumes["foo"].CatalogName)
+}
+
 func TestIsVolumePathReferencePath(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, isVolumePathReferencePath(dyn.MustPathFromString("resources.volumes.foo.volume_path")))
 	require.False(t, isVolumePathReferencePath(dyn.MustPathFromString("resources.volumes.foo.name")))