diff --git a/internal/tools/archive/getter.go b/internal/tools/archive/getter.go
index 2801188..cba36fb 100644
--- a/internal/tools/archive/getter.go
+++ b/internal/tools/archive/getter.go
@@ -325,16 +325,28 @@ func (g *dynamicGetter) searchCompositionDefinition(gvr schema.GroupVersionResou
 		refName := instanceLabels[compositionMeta.CompositionDefinitionNameLabel]
 		refNamespace := instanceLabels[compositionMeta.CompositionDefinitionNamespaceLabel]
 		if refName != "" && refNamespace != "" {
+			refMatched := false
 			for i := range all.Items {
 				el := &all.Items[i]
-				if el.GetName() == refName && el.GetNamespace() == refNamespace {
-					compositionDefinition = el
-					g.logger.Debug("Resolved composition definition via definition-ref labels", "compositionDefinitionName", refName, "compositionDefinitionNamespace", refNamespace, "gvr", gvr.String())
-					found = true
+				if el.GetName() != refName || el.GetNamespace() != refNamespace {
+					continue
+				}
+				refMatched = true
+				// The ref labels identify the owner by name+namespace only: guard against
+				// them pointing at a definition serving a DIFFERENT kind (mislabeled
+				// instance, name reuse after delete/recreate), which would fetch the
+				// wrong chart. An unreadable status kind is treated as a mismatch.
+				_, kind, kindErr := getChartVersionKind(el)
+				if kindErr != nil || kind != mg.GetKind() {
+					g.logger.Warn("Definition-ref labels point at a composition definition of a different kind, falling back to version/kind matching", "compositionDefinitionName", refName, "compositionDefinitionNamespace", refNamespace, "expectedKind", mg.GetKind(), "foundKind", kind, "gvr", gvr.String())
 					break
 				}
+				compositionDefinition = el
+				g.logger.Debug("Resolved composition definition via definition-ref labels", "compositionDefinitionName", refName, "compositionDefinitionNamespace", refNamespace, "gvr", gvr.String())
+				found = true
+				break
 			}
-			if !found {
+			if !refMatched {
 				// Stale labels are possible: fall through to version/kind matching.
 				g.logger.Debug("Definition-ref labels did not match any composition definition, falling back to version/kind matching", "compositionDefinitionName", refName, "compositionDefinitionNamespace", refNamespace, "gvr", gvr.String())
 			}
diff --git a/internal/tools/archive/getter_search_test.go b/internal/tools/archive/getter_search_test.go
index 382ddcc..64e3def 100644
--- a/internal/tools/archive/getter_search_test.go
+++ b/internal/tools/archive/getter_search_test.go
@@ -102,6 +102,20 @@ func TestSearchCompositionDefinition(t *testing.T) {
 				definitionRefLabels("gone", "krateo-system")),
 			wantName: "portal",
 		},
+		{
+			// (b ter) Kind guard: the ref labels point at an EXISTING CD that serves a
+			// DIFFERENT kind (mislabeled instance, name reuse after delete/recreate).
+			// Trusting the labels would fetch the wrong chart: fall through to the exact
+			// version+kind match on the true owner instead.
+			name: "ref labels pointing at a different-kind definition fall through to exact match",
+			definitions: []*unstructured.Unstructured{
+				newSearchTestCD("portal", "krateo-system", "v1-5-11", "OtherApp"),
+				newSearchTestCD("true-owner", "krateo-system", "v1-5-11", "FireworksApp"),
+			},
+			instance: newSearchTestComposition("FireworksApp", "v1-5-11",
+				definitionRefLabels("portal", "krateo-system")),
+			wantName: "true-owner",
+		},
 		{
 			// (c) Version-bump wedge: label says v1-5-11, CD moved to v1-5-12, no ref labels.
 			// Exactly one CD serves the kind -> unique-kind fallback unwedges the migration.