diff --git a/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/createcluster.go b/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/createcluster.go
index f67779f68dac..e34f65df423f 100644
--- a/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/createcluster.go
+++ b/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/createcluster.go
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ func (cc *createClusterOptions) createCluster(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) er
 		deps.PackageInstaller,
 	)
 
+	mgmt := getManagementCluster(clusterSpec)
+
 	validationOpts := &validations.Opts{
 		Kubectl: deps.UnAuthKubectlClient,
 		Spec:    clusterSpec,
@@ -220,10 +222,11 @@ func (cc *createClusterOptions) createCluster(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) er
 			Name:           clusterSpec.Cluster.Name,
 			KubeconfigFile: kubeconfig.FromClusterName(clusterSpec.Cluster.Name),
 		},
-		ManagementCluster:  getManagementCluster(clusterSpec),
+		ManagementCluster:  mgmt,
 		Provider:           deps.Provider,
 		CliConfig:          cliConfig,
 		SkippedValidations: skippedValidations,
+		KubeClient:         deps.UnAuthKubeClient.KubeconfigClient(mgmt.KubeconfigFile),
 	}
 	createValidations := createvalidations.New(validationOpts)
 
diff --git a/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/upgradecluster.go b/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/upgradecluster.go
index bb20c88efbb5..34ce201beeaa 100644
--- a/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/upgradecluster.go
+++ b/cmd/eksctl-anywhere/cmd/upgradecluster.go
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ func (uc *upgradeClusterOptions) upgradeCluster(cmd *cobra.Command, args []strin
 		Provider:           deps.Provider,
 		CliConfig:          cliConfig,
 		SkippedValidations: skippedValidations,
+		KubeClient:         deps.UnAuthKubeClient.KubeconfigClient(managementCluster.KubeconfigFile),
 	}
 
 	upgradeValidations := upgradevalidations.New(validationOpts)
diff --git a/controllers/cluster_controller.go b/controllers/cluster_controller.go
index b0d91aab2f74..f52516d29806 100644
--- a/controllers/cluster_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/cluster_controller.go
@@ -375,6 +375,10 @@ func (r *ClusterReconciler) preClusterProviderReconcile(ctx context.Context, log
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err := validateEksaRelease(ctx, r.client, cluster); err != nil {
+		return controller.Result{}, err
+	}
+
 	if cluster.RegistryAuth() {
 		rUsername, rPassword, err := config.ReadCredentialsFromSecret(ctx, r.client)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -611,3 +615,20 @@ func (r *ClusterReconciler) setDefaultBundlesRefOrEksaVersion(ctx context.Contex
 	clus.Status.FailureMessage = ptr.String("Management cluster must have either EksaVersion or BundlesRef")
 	return fmt.Errorf("could not set default values")
 }
+
+func validateEksaRelease(ctx context.Context, client client.Client, cluster *anywherev1.Cluster) error {
+	if cluster.Spec.EksaVersion == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	err := validations.ValidateEksaReleaseExistOnManagement(ctx, clientutil.NewKubeClient(client), cluster)
+	if apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
+		errMsg := fmt.Sprintf("eksarelease %v could not be found on the management cluster", *cluster.Spec.EksaVersion)
+		reason := anywherev1.EksaVersionInvalidReason
+		cluster.Status.FailureMessage = ptr.String(errMsg)
+		cluster.Status.FailureReason = &reason
+		return err
+	} else if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go b/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go
index 7ff79d37a26e..b96109edf347 100644
--- a/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go
+++ b/controllers/cluster_controller_test.go
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerReconcileSelfManagedCluster(t *testing.T) {
 
 	clusterValidator := mocks.NewMockClusterValidator(controller)
 	registry := newRegistryMock(providerReconciler)
-	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(selfManagedCluster, kcp).Build()
+	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(selfManagedCluster, kcp, test.EKSARelease()).Build()
 	mockPkgs := mocks.NewMockPackagesClient(controller)
 	providerReconciler.EXPECT().Reconcile(ctx, gomock.AssignableToTypeOf(logr.Logger{}), sameName(selfManagedCluster))
 	mhcReconciler.EXPECT().Reconcile(ctx, gomock.AssignableToTypeOf(logr.Logger{}), sameName(selfManagedCluster)).Return(nil)
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerReconcileConditions(t *testing.T) {
 				md.Status = tt.machineDeploymentStatus
 			})
 
-			objs = append(objs, config.Cluster, bundles, kcp, md1, mgmt.Cluster)
+			objs = append(objs, config.Cluster, bundles, kcp, md1, mgmt.Cluster, test.EKSARelease())
 
 			for _, o := range config.ChildObjects() {
 				objs = append(objs, o)
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerReconcileSelfManagedClusterConditions(t *testing.T) {
 				md.Status = tt.machineDeploymentStatus
 			})
 
-			objs = append(objs, config.Cluster, bundles, kcp, md1)
+			objs = append(objs, config.Cluster, bundles, kcp, md1, test.EKSARelease())
 			for _, o := range config.ChildObjects() {
 				objs = append(objs, o)
 			}
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerReconcileGenerations(t *testing.T) {
 			ctx := context.Background()
 
 			objs := make([]runtime.Object, 0, 7+len(machineDeployments))
-			objs = append(objs, config.Cluster, bundles)
+			objs = append(objs, config.Cluster, bundles, test.EKSARelease())
 			for _, o := range config.ChildObjects() {
 				objs = append(objs, o)
 			}
@@ -1039,7 +1039,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerReconcileSelfManagedClusterRegAuthFailNoSecret(t *test
 	mhcReconciler := mocks.NewMockMachineHealthCheckReconciler(controller)
 
 	registry := newRegistryMock(providerReconciler)
-	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(selfManagedCluster).Build()
+	c := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(selfManagedCluster, test.EKSARelease()).Build()
 
 	r := controllers.NewClusterReconciler(c, registry, iam, clusterValidator, nil, mhcReconciler)
 	_, err := r.Reconcile(ctx, clusterRequest(selfManagedCluster))
@@ -1255,7 +1255,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerSkipDontInstallPackagesOnSelfManaged(t *testing.T) {
 			ReconciledGeneration: 1,
 		},
 	}
-	objs := []runtime.Object{cluster}
+	objs := []runtime.Object{cluster, test.EKSARelease()}
 	cb := fake.NewClientBuilder()
 	mockClient := cb.WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 	nullRegistry := newRegistryForDummyProviderReconciler()
@@ -1429,7 +1429,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerPackagesInstall(s *testing.T) {
 		}
 		mgmt := cluster.DeepCopy()
 		mgmt.Name = "my-management-cluster"
-		objs := []runtime.Object{cluster, bundles, secret, mgmt}
+		objs := []runtime.Object{cluster, bundles, secret, mgmt, test.EKSARelease()}
 		fakeClient := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 		nullRegistry := newRegistryForDummyProviderReconciler()
 		mockIAM := mocks.NewMockAWSIamConfigReconciler(ctrl)
@@ -1498,6 +1498,59 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerValidateManagementEksaVersionFail(t *testing.T) {
 	g.Expect(err).To(HaveOccurred())
 }
 
+func TestClusterReconcilerNotAvailableEksaVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	version := test.DevEksaVersion()
+	config, _ := baseTestVsphereCluster()
+	config.Cluster.Name = "test-cluster"
+	config.Cluster.Spec.ManagementCluster = anywherev1.ManagementCluster{Name: "management-cluster"}
+	config.Cluster.Spec.BundlesRef = nil
+	config.Cluster.Spec.EksaVersion = &version
+
+	mgmt := config.DeepCopy()
+	mgmt.Cluster.Name = "management-cluster"
+	mgmt.Cluster.Spec.BundlesRef = nil
+	mgmt.Cluster.Spec.EksaVersion = &version
+
+	g := NewWithT(t)
+
+	objs := make([]runtime.Object, 0, 4+len(config.ChildObjects()))
+	objs = append(objs, config.Cluster, mgmt.Cluster)
+
+	for _, o := range config.ChildObjects() {
+		objs = append(objs, o)
+	}
+
+	testClient := fake.NewClientBuilder().WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
+
+	mockCtrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	providerReconciler := mocks.NewMockProviderClusterReconciler(mockCtrl)
+	iam := mocks.NewMockAWSIamConfigReconciler(mockCtrl)
+	clusterValidator := mocks.NewMockClusterValidator(mockCtrl)
+	registry := newRegistryMock(providerReconciler)
+	mockPkgs := mocks.NewMockPackagesClient(mockCtrl)
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	log := testr.New(t)
+	logCtx := ctrl.LoggerInto(ctx, log)
+
+	iam.EXPECT().EnsureCASecret(logCtx, gomock.AssignableToTypeOf(logr.Logger{}), sameName(config.Cluster)).Return(controller.Result{}, nil)
+	clusterValidator.EXPECT().ValidateManagementClusterName(logCtx, gomock.AssignableToTypeOf(logr.Logger{}), sameName(config.Cluster)).Return(nil)
+
+	r := controllers.NewClusterReconciler(testClient, registry, iam, clusterValidator, mockPkgs, nil)
+
+	req := clusterRequest(config.Cluster)
+	_, err := r.Reconcile(logCtx, req)
+
+	g.Expect(err).To(HaveOccurred())
+	eksaCluster := &anywherev1.Cluster{}
+
+	expectedError := fmt.Sprintf("eksarelease %v could not be found on the management cluster", *config.Cluster.Spec.EksaVersion)
+	g.Expect(testClient.Get(ctx, req.NamespacedName, eksaCluster)).To(Succeed())
+
+	g.Expect(eksaCluster.Status.FailureReason).To(HaveValue(Equal(anywherev1.EksaVersionInvalidReason)))
+	g.Expect(eksaCluster.Status.FailureMessage).To(HaveValue(Equal(expectedError)))
+}
+
 func vsphereWorkerMachineConfig() *anywherev1.VSphereMachineConfig {
 	return &anywherev1.VSphereMachineConfig{
 		TypeMeta: metav1.TypeMeta{
diff --git a/controllers/cluster_controller_test_test.go b/controllers/cluster_controller_test_test.go
index 88eafcdecd95..405060271bad 100644
--- a/controllers/cluster_controller_test_test.go
+++ b/controllers/cluster_controller_test_test.go
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ import (
 func TestClusterReconcilerEnsureOwnerReferences(t *testing.T) {
 	g := NewWithT(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
+	version := test.DevEksaVersion()
+	bundlesRef := &anywherev1.BundlesRef{
+		Name:      "my-bundles-ref",
+		Namespace: "my-namespace",
+	}
 
 	managementCluster := &anywherev1.Cluster{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
@@ -40,9 +45,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerEnsureOwnerReferences(t *testing.T) {
 			Namespace: "my-namespace",
 		},
 		Spec: anywherev1.ClusterSpec{
-			BundlesRef: &anywherev1.BundlesRef{
-				Name: "my-bundles-ref",
-			},
+			EksaVersion: &version,
 		},
 		Status: anywherev1.ClusterStatus{
 			ReconciledGeneration: 1,
@@ -56,10 +59,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerEnsureOwnerReferences(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		Spec: anywherev1.ClusterSpec{
 			KubernetesVersion: "v1.25",
-			BundlesRef: &anywherev1.BundlesRef{
-				Name:      "my-bundles-ref",
-				Namespace: "my-namespace",
-			},
+			EksaVersion:       &version,
 		},
 		Status: anywherev1.ClusterStatus{
 			ReconciledGeneration: 1,
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerEnsureOwnerReferences(t *testing.T) {
 			Namespace: constants.EksaSystemNamespace,
 		},
 	}
-	objs := []runtime.Object{cluster, managementCluster, oidc, awsIAM, bundles, secret}
+	objs := []runtime.Object{cluster, managementCluster, oidc, awsIAM, bundles, secret, test.EKSARelease()}
 	cb := fake.NewClientBuilder()
 	cl := cb.WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerEnsureOwnerReferences(t *testing.T) {
 	r := controllers.NewClusterReconciler(cl, newRegistryForDummyProviderReconciler(), iam, validator, pcc, mhc)
 	_, err := r.Reconcile(ctx, clusterRequest(cluster))
 
-	g.Expect(cl.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Namespace: cluster.Spec.BundlesRef.Namespace, Name: cluster.Spec.BundlesRef.Name}, bundles)).To(Succeed())
+	g.Expect(cl.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Namespace: bundlesRef.Namespace, Name: bundlesRef.Name}, bundles)).To(Succeed())
 	g.Expect(cl.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Namespace: constants.EksaSystemNamespace, Name: cluster.Name + "-kubeconfig"}, secret)).To(Succeed())
 
 	g.Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ func TestClusterReconcilerSetDefaultEksaVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	cluster.SetManagedBy("my-management-cluster")
 
-	objs := []runtime.Object{cluster, managementCluster}
+	objs := []runtime.Object{cluster, managementCluster, test.EKSARelease()}
 	cb := fake.NewClientBuilder()
 	cl := cb.WithRuntimeObjects(objs...).Build()
 
diff --git a/pkg/validations/cluster.go b/pkg/validations/cluster.go
index 593843c08495..875369cb43cf 100644
--- a/pkg/validations/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/validations/cluster.go
@@ -6,14 +6,17 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/api/v1alpha1"
+	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/clients/kubernetes"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/cluster"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/config"
+	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/constants"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/features"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/logger"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/providers"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/semver"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/types"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/utils/ptr"
+	releasev1alpha1 "github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/release/api/v1alpha1"
 )
 
 // ValidateOSForRegistryMirror checks if the OS is valid for the provided registry mirror configuration.
@@ -113,7 +116,7 @@ func ValidateEksaVersion(ctx context.Context, cliVersion string, workload *clust
 	}
 
 	if !parsedVersion.SamePatch(parsedCLIVersion) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cluster's eksaVersion does not match EKS-A CLI's version")
+		return fmt.Errorf("cluster's eksaVersion does not match EKS-Anywhere CLI's version")
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -215,3 +218,13 @@ func ValidateK8s129Support(clusterSpec *cluster.Spec) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// ValidateEksaReleaseExistOnManagement checks if there is a corresponding eksareleases CR for workload's eksaVersion on the mgmt cluster.
+func ValidateEksaReleaseExistOnManagement(ctx context.Context, k kubernetes.Client, workload *v1alpha1.Cluster) error {
+	v := workload.Spec.EksaVersion
+	err := k.Get(ctx, releasev1alpha1.GenerateEKSAReleaseName(string(*v)), constants.EksaSystemNamespace, &releasev1alpha1.EKSARelease{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/validations/cluster_test.go b/pkg/validations/cluster_test.go
index f6ef7d2a74d2..6da0fb1b58cc 100644
--- a/pkg/validations/cluster_test.go
+++ b/pkg/validations/cluster_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
 	v1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/internal/test"
 	anywherev1 "github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/api/v1alpha1"
@@ -320,6 +321,7 @@ func TestValidateEksaVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		wantErr    error
 		version    *anywherev1.EksaVersion
 		cliVersion string
+		workload   bool
 	}{
 		{
 			name:       "Success",
@@ -339,6 +341,12 @@ func TestValidateEksaVersion(t *testing.T) {
 			version:    &v,
 			cliVersion: "badvalue",
 		},
+		{
+			name:       "Mismatch",
+			wantErr:    fmt.Errorf("cluster's eksaVersion does not match EKS-Anywhere CLI's version"),
+			version:    &v,
+			cliVersion: "v0.0.1",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
@@ -348,8 +356,12 @@ func TestValidateEksaVersion(t *testing.T) {
 			tt.clusterSpec.Cluster.Spec.EksaVersion = tc.version
 			ctx := context.Background()
 
+			if tc.workload {
+				tt.clusterSpec.Cluster.SetManagedBy("other")
+			}
+
 			err := validations.ValidateEksaVersion(ctx, tc.cliVersion, tt.clusterSpec)
-			if err != nil {
+			if tc.wantErr != nil {
 				tt.Expect(err).To(MatchError(tc.wantErr))
 			}
 		})
@@ -524,3 +536,34 @@ func TestValidateK8s129SupportActive(t *testing.T) {
 	os.Setenv(features.K8s129SupportEnvVar, "true")
 	tt.Expect(validations.ValidateK8s129Support(tt.clusterSpec)).To(Succeed())
 }
+
+func TestValidateEksaReleaseExistOnManagement(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		wantErr error
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "success",
+			wantErr: nil,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "not present",
+			wantErr: fmt.Errorf("not found"),
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			tt := newTest(t)
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			objs := []client.Object{}
+			if tc.wantErr == nil {
+				objs = append(objs, test.EKSARelease())
+			}
+			fakeClient := test.NewFakeKubeClient(objs...)
+			err := validations.ValidateEksaReleaseExistOnManagement(ctx, fakeClient, tt.clusterSpec.Cluster)
+			if err != nil {
+				tt.Expect(err.Error()).To(ContainSubstring(tc.wantErr.Error()))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations.go b/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations.go
index 7ea7b28feb81..916f823998db 100644
--- a/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations.go
+++ b/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	anywherev1 "github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/api/v1alpha1"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/config"
+	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/constants"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/features"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/types"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/validations"
@@ -105,6 +106,13 @@ func (v *CreateValidations) PreflightValidations(ctx context.Context) []validati
 					Err:         validations.ValidateManagementClusterEksaVersion(ctx, k, v.Opts.ManagementCluster, v.Opts.Spec),
 				}
 			},
+			func() *validations.ValidationResult {
+				return &validations.ValidationResult{
+					Name:        "validate eksa release components exist on management cluster",
+					Remediation: fmt.Sprintf("ensure eksaVersion is in the correct format (vMajor.Minor.Patch) and matches one of the available releases on the management cluster: kubectl get eksareleases -n %s --kubeconfig %s", constants.EksaSystemNamespace, v.Opts.ManagementCluster.KubeconfigFile),
+					Err:         validations.ValidateEksaReleaseExistOnManagement(ctx, v.Opts.KubeClient, v.Opts.Spec.Cluster),
+				}
+			},
 		)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go b/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go
index 4996d8861bc1..8caa5ce21a43 100644
--- a/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go
+++ b/pkg/validations/createvalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
 	v1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/internal/test"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/api/v1alpha1"
@@ -38,12 +39,14 @@ func newPreflightValidationsTest(t *testing.T) *preflightValidationsTest {
 		}
 	})
 	version := "v0.0.0-dev"
+	objects := []client.Object{test.EKSARelease()}
 	opts := &validations.Opts{
 		Kubectl:           k,
 		Spec:              clusterSpec,
 		WorkloadCluster:   c,
 		ManagementCluster: c,
 		CliVersion:        version,
+		KubeClient:        test.NewFakeKubeClient(objects...),
 	}
 	return &preflightValidationsTest{
 		WithT: NewWithT(t),
diff --git a/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations.go b/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations.go
index d361d4457b66..905de709db07 100644
--- a/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations.go
+++ b/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	anywherev1 "github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/api/v1alpha1"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/config"
+	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/constants"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/features"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/providers"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/types"
@@ -109,8 +110,8 @@ func (u *UpgradeValidations) PreflightValidations(ctx context.Context) []validat
 		},
 		func() *validations.ValidationResult {
 			return &validations.ValidationResult{
-				Name:        "validate cluster's eksaVersion matches EKS-A Version",
-				Remediation: "ensure EksaVersion matches the EKS-A release or omit the value from the cluster config",
+				Name:        "validate cluster's eksaVersion matches EKS-Anywhere Version",
+				Remediation: "ensure eksaVersion matches the EKS-Anywhere release or omit the value from the cluster config",
 				Err:         validations.ValidateEksaVersion(ctx, u.Opts.CliVersion, u.Opts.Spec),
 			}
 		},
@@ -134,6 +135,13 @@ func (u *UpgradeValidations) PreflightValidations(ctx context.Context) []validat
 					Err:         validations.ValidateManagementClusterEksaVersion(ctx, k, u.Opts.ManagementCluster, u.Opts.Spec),
 				}
 			},
+			func() *validations.ValidationResult {
+				return &validations.ValidationResult{
+					Name:        "validate eksa release components exist on management cluster",
+					Remediation: fmt.Sprintf("ensure eksaVersion is in the correct format (vMajor.Minor.Patch) and matches one of the available releases on the management cluster: kubectl get eksareleases -n %s --kubeconfig %s", constants.EksaSystemNamespace, u.Opts.ManagementCluster.KubeconfigFile),
+					Err:         validations.ValidateEksaReleaseExistOnManagement(ctx, u.Opts.KubeClient, u.Opts.Spec.Cluster),
+				}
+			},
 		)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go b/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go
index d8300f183872..5830b72dc7fb 100644
--- a/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go
+++ b/pkg/validations/upgradevalidations/preflightvalidations_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/internal/test"
 	anywherev1 "github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/api/v1alpha1"
@@ -1118,6 +1119,7 @@ func TestPreflightValidationsVsphere(t *testing.T) {
 			if tc.modifyDefaultSpecFunc != nil {
 				tc.modifyDefaultSpecFunc(clusterSpec)
 			}
+			objects := []client.Object{test.EKSARelease()}
 			opts := &validations.Opts{
 				Kubectl:           k,
 				Spec:              clusterSpec,
@@ -1126,6 +1128,7 @@ func TestPreflightValidationsVsphere(t *testing.T) {
 				Provider:          provider,
 				TLSValidator:      tlsValidator,
 				CliVersion:        "v0.0.0-dev",
+				KubeClient:        test.NewFakeKubeClient(objects...),
 			}
 
 			clusterSpec.Cluster.Spec.KubernetesVersion = anywherev1.KubernetesVersion(tc.upgradeVersion)
diff --git a/pkg/validations/validation_options.go b/pkg/validations/validation_options.go
index 14829c2a2d05..70f9c298adf8 100644
--- a/pkg/validations/validation_options.go
+++ b/pkg/validations/validation_options.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package validations
 
 import (
+	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/clients/kubernetes"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/cluster"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/aws/eks-anywhere/pkg/crypto"
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ type Opts struct {
 	CliConfig          *config.CliConfig
 	SkippedValidations map[string]bool
 	CliVersion         string
+	KubeClient         kubernetes.Client
 }
 
 func (o *Opts) SetDefaults() {