diff --git a/charts/openhab/templates/_helpers.tpl b/charts/openhab/templates/_helpers.tpl
index e2f748c40..5040267d9 100644
--- a/charts/openhab/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/charts/openhab/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -99,6 +99,19 @@ Validate ConfigMap sync configuration.
 {{- end }}
 {{- end }}
 
+{{/*
+Validate pod labels do not override immutable selector labels.
+*/}}
+{{- define "openhab.validatePodLabels" -}}
+{{- $podLabels := .Values.podLabels | default dict -}}
+{{- if hasKey $podLabels "app.kubernetes.io/name" -}}
+{{- fail "podLabels must not override the selector label app.kubernetes.io/name" -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- if hasKey $podLabels "app.kubernetes.io/instance" -}}
+{{- fail "podLabels must not override the selector label app.kubernetes.io/instance" -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end }}
+
 {{/*
 Resolve the admin secret name.
 */}}
diff --git a/charts/openhab/templates/statefulset.yaml b/charts/openhab/templates/statefulset.yaml
index f0602ca98..9249ee7df 100644
--- a/charts/openhab/templates/statefulset.yaml
+++ b/charts/openhab/templates/statefulset.yaml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 {{- include "openhab.validateReplicaCount" . }}
 {{- include "openhab.validateAdmin" . }}
 {{- include "openhab.validateConfigMaps" . }}
+{{- include "openhab.validatePodLabels" . }}
 {{- $hasSitemaps := and .Values.configMaps.sitemaps.enabled (gt (len (.Values.configMaps.sitemaps.files | default dict)) 0) }}
 {{- $hasThings := and .Values.configMaps.things.enabled (gt (len (.Values.configMaps.things.files | default dict)) 0) }}
 {{- $hasItems := and .Values.configMaps.items.enabled (gt (len (.Values.configMaps.items.files | default dict)) 0) }}
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ spec:
         {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}
         {{- end }}
       labels:
-        {{- include "openhab.labels" . | nindent 8 }}
+        {{- include "openhab.selectorLabels" . | nindent 8 }}
         {{- with .Values.podLabels }}
         {{- toYaml . | nindent 8 }}
         {{- end }}
diff --git a/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-combined-values.yaml b/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-combined-values.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb4a46aa4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-combined-values.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+podLabels:
+  app.kubernetes.io/name: custom
+  app.kubernetes.io/instance: custom
diff --git a/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-instance-values.yaml b/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-instance-values.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5a3999b7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-instance-values.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+podLabels:
+  app.kubernetes.io/instance: custom
diff --git a/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-name-values.yaml b/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-name-values.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..44e895083
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/openhab/tests/podlabels-selector-name-values.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+podLabels:
+  app.kubernetes.io/name: custom
diff --git a/charts/openhab/tests/validation_test.yaml b/charts/openhab/tests/validation_test.yaml
index f11c5c7b3..61bfa1f04 100644
--- a/charts/openhab/tests/validation_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/openhab/tests/validation_test.yaml
@@ -41,3 +41,24 @@ tests:
     asserts:
       - isKind:
           of: StatefulSet
+
+  - it: should fail when podLabels override selector name
+    values:
+      - podlabels-selector-name-values.yaml
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: "podLabels must not override the selector label app.kubernetes.io/name"
+
+  - it: should fail when podLabels override selector name and instance
+    values:
+      - podlabels-selector-combined-values.yaml
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: "podLabels must not override the selector label app.kubernetes.io/name"
+
+  - it: should fail when podLabels override selector instance
+    values:
+      - podlabels-selector-instance-values.yaml
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: "podLabels must not override the selector label app.kubernetes.io/instance"