diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-build.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci-build.yaml
index e185e91e9a12..69ecd44dcb55 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-build.yaml
@@ -362,6 +362,8 @@ jobs:
             POD_STATUS_CAPTURE_FINALIZER=true 2>&1 | tee /tmp/argo.log &
           make wait PROFILE=${{matrix.profile}} API=${{matrix.use-api}}
         timeout-minutes: 5
+      - name: Validate release manifests
+        run: make manifests-validate
       - name: Run tests ${{matrix.test}}
         run: make ${{matrix.test}} E2E_SUITE_TIMEOUT=20m STATIC_FILES=false
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4934001a320c..71c80000f0e3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -447,6 +447,10 @@ dist/manifests/%: manifests/%
 
 # lint/test/etc
 
+.PHONE: manifests-validate
+manifests-validate:
+	kubectl apply --server-side --validate=strict --dry-run=server -f 'manifests/*.yaml'
+
 $(GOPATH)/bin/golangci-lint: Makefile
 	curl -sSfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/install.sh | sh -s -- -b `go env GOPATH`/bin v1.61.0