diff --git a/cmd/apply.go b/cmd/apply.go
index 311f64b..3a50ddf 100644
--- a/cmd/apply.go
+++ b/cmd/apply.go
@@ -67,13 +67,19 @@ func runApply(configPath string, isDryRun bool, autoApprove bool) error {
 
 	fmt.Printf("✅ Configuration loaded successfully: %s\n", cfg.Metadata.Name)
 
-	// Step 3: Create EdgeConnect client (apply always uses v2)
+	// Step 3: Validate API version (apply only supports v2)
+	apiVersion := getAPIVersion()
+	if apiVersion == "v1" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("apply command only supports API v2. The v1 API does not support the advanced deployment features required by this command. Please use --api-version v2 or remove the api_version setting")
+	}
+
+	// Step 4: Create EdgeConnect client (v2 only)
 	client := newSDKClientV2()
 
-	// Step 4: Create deployment planner
+	// Step 5: Create deployment planner
 	planner := apply.NewPlanner(client)
 
-	// Step 5: Generate deployment plan
+	// Step 6: Generate deployment plan
 	fmt.Println("🔍 Analyzing current state and generating deployment plan...")
 
 	planOptions := apply.DefaultPlanOptions()