diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py
index 48bd7771..9f187dd0 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deployer import (
     DeployerException,
 )
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.k8s.helpers import (
+    check_mounts_compatible,
     create_cluster,
     destroy_cluster,
     get_kind_cluster,
@@ -818,6 +819,12 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
                     "fresh cluster (note: destroys the existing one if "
                     "names collide)."
                 )
+            # Mount topology applies regardless of who owns cluster
+            # lifecycle — validate here too.
+            kind_config = str(
+                self.deployment_dir.joinpath(constants.kind_config_filename)
+            )
+            check_mounts_compatible(existing, kind_config)
         self.connect_api()
         self._ensure_namespace()
         if self.is_kind() and not self.skip_cluster_management:
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/helpers.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/helpers.py
index 1864bbf1..03aa5ed7 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/helpers.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/helpers.py
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ def _get_running_cluster_mounts(cluster_name: str) -> Dict[str, str]:
     }
 
 
-def _check_mounts_compatible(cluster_name: str, config_file: str) -> None:
+def check_mounts_compatible(cluster_name: str, config_file: str) -> None:
     """Fail if the new deployment's extraMounts aren't active on the cluster.
 
     Kind applies extraMounts only at cluster creation. When a deployment
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def create_cluster(name: str, config_file: str):
     existing = get_kind_cluster()
     if existing:
         print(f"Using existing cluster: {existing}")
-        _check_mounts_compatible(existing, config_file)
+        check_mounts_compatible(existing, config_file)
         return existing
 
     _warn_if_no_umbrella(config_file)