diff --git a/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go b/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go
index a151448943..96436f336d 100644
--- a/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go
+++ b/cmd/thv-operator/api/v1beta1/mcpgroup_types.go
@@ -9,9 +9,13 @@ import (
 
 // MCPGroupSpec defines the desired state of MCPGroup
 type MCPGroupSpec struct {
-	// Description provides human-readable context
+	// Description provides human-readable context.
+	// TEST: JSON tag deliberately renamed from "description" to "summary" to
+	// validate that the api-compat.yml workflow flags the field rename as a
+	// breaking change. Go field name is kept so existing callers still
+	// compile. Do NOT merge this PR.
 	// +optional
-	Description string `json:"description,omitempty"`
+	Description string `json:"summary,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // 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..4da97b1971 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
@@ -59,8 +59,13 @@ spec:
           spec:
             description: MCPGroupSpec defines the desired state of MCPGroup
             properties:
-              description:
-                description: Description provides human-readable context
+              summary:
+                description: |-
+                  Description provides human-readable context.
+                  TEST: JSON tag deliberately renamed from "description" to "summary" to
+                  validate that the api-compat.yml workflow flags the field rename as a
+                  breaking change. Go field name is kept so existing callers still
+                  compile. Do NOT merge this PR.
                 type: string
             type: object
           status:
@@ -213,8 +218,13 @@ spec:
           spec:
             description: MCPGroupSpec defines the desired state of MCPGroup
             properties:
-              description:
-                description: Description provides human-readable context
+              summary:
+                description: |-
+                  Description provides human-readable context.
+                  TEST: JSON tag deliberately renamed from "description" to "summary" to
+                  validate that the api-compat.yml workflow flags the field rename as a
+                  breaking change. Go field name is kept so existing callers still
+                  compile. Do NOT merge this PR.
                 type: string
             type: object
           status:
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..fe56938d13 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/operator-crds/templates/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
+++ b/deploy/charts/operator-crds/templates/toolhive.stacklok.dev_mcpgroups.yaml
@@ -62,8 +62,13 @@ spec:
           spec:
             description: MCPGroupSpec defines the desired state of MCPGroup
             properties:
-              description:
-                description: Description provides human-readable context
+              summary:
+                description: |-
+                  Description provides human-readable context.
+                  TEST: JSON tag deliberately renamed from "description" to "summary" to
+                  validate that the api-compat.yml workflow flags the field rename as a
+                  breaking change. Go field name is kept so existing callers still
+                  compile. Do NOT merge this PR.
                 type: string
             type: object
           status:
@@ -216,8 +221,13 @@ spec:
           spec:
             description: MCPGroupSpec defines the desired state of MCPGroup
             properties:
-              description:
-                description: Description provides human-readable context
+              summary:
+                description: |-
+                  Description provides human-readable context.
+                  TEST: JSON tag deliberately renamed from "description" to "summary" to
+                  validate that the api-compat.yml workflow flags the field rename as a
+                  breaking change. Go field name is kept so existing callers still
+                  compile. Do NOT merge this PR.
                 type: string
             type: object
           status: