diff --git a/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go b/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go
index a151448943..c44b31f78c 100644
--- a/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go
+++ b/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ type MCPGroupSpec struct {
 	// Description provides human-readable context
 	// +optional
 	Description string `json:"description,omitempty"`
+
+	// TestBreakingChange is deliberately added as a required field to validate
+	// that api-compat.yml flags new-required-field additions as breaking.
+	// Do NOT merge this PR — see PR description.
+	// +kubebuilder:validation:Required
+	TestBreakingChange string `json:"testBreakingChange"`
 }
 
 // MCPGroupStatus defines observed state
diff --git a/deploy/charts/operator-crds/files/crds/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml b/deploy/charts/operator-crds/files/crds/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
index 4270eb0334..78e2c29dd1 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/operator-crds/files/crds/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
+++ b/deploy/charts/operator-crds/files/crds/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
@@ -62,6 +62,14 @@ spec:
               description:
                 description: Description provides human-readable context
                 type: string
+              testBreakingChange:
+                description: |-
+                  TestBreakingChange is deliberately added as a required field to validate
+                  that api-compat.yml flags new-required-field additions as breaking.
+                  Do NOT merge this PR — see PR description.
+                type: string
+            required:
+            - testBreakingChange
             type: object
           status:
             description: MCPGroupStatus defines observed state
@@ -216,6 +224,14 @@ spec:
               description:
                 description: Description provides human-readable context
                 type: string
+              testBreakingChange:
+                description: |-
+                  TestBreakingChange is deliberately added as a required field to validate
+                  that api-compat.yml flags new-required-field additions as breaking.
+                  Do NOT merge this PR — see PR description.
+                type: string
+            required:
+            - testBreakingChange
             type: object
           status:
             description: MCPGroupStatus defines observed state
diff --git a/deploy/charts/operator-crds/templates/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml b/deploy/charts/operator-crds/templates/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
index 5a072011b2..4c9170a41b 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/operator-crds/templates/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
+++ b/deploy/charts/operator-crds/templates/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
@@ -65,6 +65,14 @@ spec:
               description:
                 description: Description provides human-readable context
                 type: string
+              testBreakingChange:
+                description: |-
+                  TestBreakingChange is deliberately added as a required field to validate
+                  that api-compat.yml flags new-required-field additions as breaking.
+                  Do NOT merge this PR — see PR description.
+                type: string
+            required:
+            - testBreakingChange
             type: object
           status:
             description: MCPGroupStatus defines observed state
@@ -219,6 +227,14 @@ spec:
               description:
                 description: Description provides human-readable context
                 type: string
+              testBreakingChange:
+                description: |-
+                  TestBreakingChange is deliberately added as a required field to validate
+                  that api-compat.yml flags new-required-field additions as breaking.
+                  Do NOT merge this PR — see PR description.
+                type: string
+            required:
+            - testBreakingChange
             type: object
           status:
             description: MCPGroupStatus defines observed state