diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook.go b/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook.go
index 1c325e4be..51459e9b4 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook.go
@@ -118,9 +118,6 @@ func convertToPattern(obj runtime.Object) (*Pattern, error) {
 }
 
 func validateVariantAlias(p *Pattern) error {
-	if p.Spec.ClusterGroupName != "" && p.Spec.Variant != "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("spec.variant and spec.clusterGroupName are mutually exclusive, set only one")
-	}
 	if p.Spec.ClusterGroupName == "" && p.Spec.Variant == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("one of spec.variant or spec.clusterGroupName must be set")
 	}
diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook_test.go b/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook_test.go
index c9d2f4ea4..d2f3a1e10 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook_test.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/pattern_webhook_test.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func TestValidateCreate_AllowsVariantOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestValidateCreate_RejectsBothSet(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateCreate_AllowsBothSet(t *testing.T) {
 	scheme := runtime.NewScheme()
 	if err := AddToScheme(scheme); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to add scheme: %v", err)
@@ -156,9 +156,12 @@ func TestValidateCreate_RejectsBothSet(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	_, err := validator.ValidateCreate(context.Background(), p)
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Error("expected error when both variant and clusterGroupName are set, got nil")
+	warnings, err := validator.ValidateCreate(context.Background(), p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("expected no error when both variant and clusterGroupName are set, got: %v", err)
+	}
+	if warnings != nil {
+		t.Errorf("expected no warnings, got: %v", warnings)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -190,7 +193,7 @@ func TestValidateCreate_RejectsBothEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestValidateUpdate_RejectsBothSet(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateUpdate_AllowsBothSet(t *testing.T) {
 	scheme := runtime.NewScheme()
 	if err := AddToScheme(scheme); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to add scheme: %v", err)
@@ -210,9 +213,12 @@ func TestValidateUpdate_RejectsBothSet(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	_, err := validator.ValidateUpdate(context.Background(), p, p)
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Error("expected error when both variant and clusterGroupName are set on update, got nil")
+	warnings, err := validator.ValidateUpdate(context.Background(), p, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("expected no error when both variant and clusterGroupName are set on update, got: %v", err)
+	}
+	if warnings != nil {
+		t.Errorf("expected no warnings, got: %v", warnings)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/config/rbac/role.yaml b/config/rbac/role.yaml
index 036ee9055..202161f65 100644
--- a/config/rbac/role.yaml
+++ b/config/rbac/role.yaml
@@ -185,6 +185,13 @@ rules:
   - list
   - patch
   - update
+- apiGroups:
+  - route.openshift.io
+  resources:
+  - routes
+  verbs:
+  - get
+  - list
 - apiGroups:
   - view.open-cluster-management.io
   resources:
diff --git a/internal/controller/pattern_controller.go b/internal/controller/pattern_controller.go
index 7b264ab8c..f6f21910d 100644
--- a/internal/controller/pattern_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controller/pattern_controller.go
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ type PatternReconciler struct {
 //+kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=secrets,verbs=get;create;update;watch
 //+kubebuilder:rbac:groups="view.open-cluster-management.io",resources=managedclusterviews,verbs=create
 //+kubebuilder:rbac:groups="cluster.open-cluster-management.io",resources=managedclusters,verbs=list;delete
+//+kubebuilder:rbac:groups="route.openshift.io",resources=routes,verbs=list;get
 
 // Reconcile is part of the main kubernetes reconciliation loop which aims to
 // move the current state of the cluster closer to the desired state.
@@ -700,11 +701,12 @@ func (r *PatternReconciler) applyDefaults(input *api.Pattern) (*api.Pattern, err
 		multiSourceBool := true
 		output.Spec.MultiSourceConfig.Enabled = &multiSourceBool
 	}
-	switch {
-	case output.Spec.ClusterGroupName == "" && output.Spec.Variant != "":
+	if output.Spec.Variant != "" {
+		if output.Spec.ClusterGroupName != "" && output.Spec.ClusterGroupName != output.Spec.Variant {
+			logOnce(fmt.Sprintf("Both spec.variant (%q) and spec.clusterGroupName (%q) are set, spec.variant will take precedence",
+				output.Spec.Variant, output.Spec.ClusterGroupName))
+		}
 		output.Spec.ClusterGroupName = output.Spec.Variant
-	case output.Spec.ClusterGroupName != "" && output.Spec.Variant == "":
-		output.Spec.Variant = output.Spec.ClusterGroupName
 	}
 	if output.Spec.MultiSourceConfig.HelmRepoUrl == "" {
 		output.Spec.MultiSourceConfig.HelmRepoUrl = GiteaHelmRepoUrl
diff --git a/internal/controller/pattern_controller_test.go b/internal/controller/pattern_controller_test.go
index 0e78e3fb7..2f2f122eb 100644
--- a/internal/controller/pattern_controller_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/pattern_controller_test.go
@@ -513,14 +513,13 @@ var _ = Describe("pattern controller - applyDefaults", func() {
 		Expect(*output.Spec.MultiSourceConfig.Enabled).To(BeTrue())
 	})
 
-	It("should sync Variant from ClusterGroupName when Variant is empty", func() {
+	It("should keep ClusterGroupName when Variant is empty", func() {
 		p := buildPatternManifest()
 		p.Spec.ClusterGroupName = "hub"
 		p.Spec.Variant = ""
 		output, err := reconciler.applyDefaults(p)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(output.Spec.ClusterGroupName).To(Equal("hub"))
-		Expect(output.Spec.Variant).To(Equal("hub"))
 	})
 
 	It("should sync ClusterGroupName from Variant when ClusterGroupName is empty", func() {
@@ -530,7 +529,15 @@ var _ = Describe("pattern controller - applyDefaults", func() {
 		output, err := reconciler.applyDefaults(p)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		Expect(output.Spec.ClusterGroupName).To(Equal("factory"))
-		Expect(output.Spec.Variant).To(Equal("factory"))
+	})
+
+	It("should let Variant win when both are set", func() {
+		p := buildPatternManifest()
+		p.Spec.ClusterGroupName = "hub"
+		p.Spec.Variant = "factory"
+		output, err := reconciler.applyDefaults(p)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(output.Spec.ClusterGroupName).To(Equal("factory"))
 	})
 
 	It("should default HelmRepoUrl when empty", func() {