diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 8085fcb..308fd5d 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ returns `202 Accepted`. Callers poll until the template becomes
 and deletes its own templates behind `TemplateCapability`.
 
 A host request can name an available template by its ID — the ID that
-the create returned. The template's image becomes the host image. An
-explicit `image`
-wins over the template, and the template wins over the provider default.
+the create returned. The template's image becomes the host image in place
+of the provider default. A request that names both an `image` and a
+template fails with `422`.
 Host creation never builds a missing or unavailable template. It returns
 a client error, and the caller decides when to build.
 
diff --git a/src/hosts/schemas.py b/src/hosts/schemas.py
index f9bef97..2bf7911 100644
--- a/src/hosts/schemas.py
+++ b/src/hosts/schemas.py
@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
 import re
 import uuid
 from datetime import UTC, datetime
-from typing import Annotated
+from typing import Annotated, Self
 
-from pydantic import AfterValidator, BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field, ValidationInfo, field_validator
+from pydantic import (
+    AfterValidator,
+    BaseModel,
+    ConfigDict,
+    Field,
+    ValidationInfo,
+    field_validator,
+    model_validator,
+)
 
 from host_secrets import catalog
 from host_secrets.schemas import SECRET_NAME_PATTERN, SecretEntry
@@ -30,7 +38,7 @@ class HostCreate(BaseModel):
     image: str | None = None
     template: uuid.UUID | None = Field(
         default=None,
-        description="Template ID to fork from. Used only when the request has no image.",
+        description="Template ID to fork from. A request names an image or a template, not both.",
     )
     env: dict[str, str] = Field(default_factory=dict)
     secrets: dict[str, SecretEntry] = Field(
@@ -96,6 +104,12 @@ def reject_reserved_env_keys(cls, env: dict[str, str]) -> dict[str, str]:
         environment.get_persist(env)
         return env
 
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def reject_image_with_template(self) -> Self:
+        if self.image and self.template:
+            raise ValueError("provide an image or a template, not both")
+        return self
+
 
 class HostOut(BaseModel):
     model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
diff --git a/src/hosts/service.py b/src/hosts/service.py
index b282c5f..0ef6a16 100644
--- a/src/hosts/service.py
+++ b/src/hosts/service.py
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ async def create_host(
                 "SECRETS_PROXY_URL and SECRETS_PROXY_CA_FILE must name the proxy that "
                 "sandboxes dial and its certificate"
             )
-        if template and not image:
+        if template:
             image = await self._resolve_template_image(template_id=template, provider=vm.name)
         uid = uuid7()
         name = Host.build_name(uid)
diff --git a/src/hosts/tests/test_templates.py b/src/hosts/tests/test_templates.py
index f59c068..df5fa8d 100644
--- a/src/hosts/tests/test_templates.py
+++ b/src/hosts/tests/test_templates.py
@@ -127,10 +127,9 @@ async def test_create_host_rejects_unknown_template_id(client):
     assert response.json()["error_code"] == "UNKNOWN_TEMPLATE"
 
 
-async def test_create_host_explicit_image_wins_without_touching_template(client, monkeypatch):
-    """An explicit image bypasses template resolution and leaves usage unstamped."""
-    template = await create_template_record(image="derived:ignored")
-    monkeypatch.setattr("hosts.service.HostService.provision", AsyncMock())
+async def test_create_host_rejects_an_image_with_a_template(client):
+    """A request names one image source: both would silently drop one of them."""
+    template = await create_template_record(image="derived:image")
 
     response = await client.post(
         "/hosts",
@@ -138,12 +137,8 @@ async def test_create_host_explicit_image_wins_without_touching_template(client,
         json={"image": "explicit:image", "template": str(template.id)},
     )
 
-    assert response.status_code == 201
-    assert response.json()["image"] == "explicit:image"
-    async with async_session_factory() as session:
-        untouched_template = await session.get(Template, template.id)
-    assert untouched_template is not None
-    assert untouched_template.last_used_at is None
+    assert response.status_code == 422
+    assert "an image or a template" in response.text
 
 
 async def test_create_host_template_request_bypasses_pool(client, monkeypatch):