diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 06a71287..40b6af49 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ For more details,  see the full release notes on the [releases page](https://git
 
   - `distribution`: Java [distribution](#supported-distributions). Required unless `java-version-file` points to `.sdkmanrc` with a recognized distribution suffix (for example `java=21.0.5-tem`).
 
-  - `java-package`: The packaging variant of the chosen distribution. Possible values: `jdk`, `jre`, `jdk+fx`, `jre+fx`. For Azul Zulu, `jdk+crac` and `jre+crac` are also supported. For Eclipse Temurin 24 and later, `jdk+jmods` includes the separately packaged JMOD files. Default value: `jdk`.
+  - `java-package`: The packaging variant of the chosen distribution. Possible values across all distributions are `jdk`, `jre`, `jdk+fx`, `jre+fx`, `jdk+crac`, `jre+crac`, `jdk+jmods`, `jdk+jcef`, `jre+jcef`, `jdk+ft`, and `jre+ft`. Supported values vary by distribution; see the [package compatibility table](docs/advanced-usage.md#package-compatibility). Default value: `jdk`.
 
   - `architecture`: The target architecture of the package. Possible values: `x86`, `x64`, `armv7`, `aarch64`, `ppc64le`. Default value: Derived from the runner machine.
 
diff --git a/__tests__/distributors/distribution-factory.test.ts b/__tests__/distributors/distribution-factory.test.ts
index 915e7a78..7c04da52 100644
--- a/__tests__/distributors/distribution-factory.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/distributors/distribution-factory.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 import {getJavaDistribution} from '../../src/distributions/distribution-factory.js';
 import {RetryingHttpClient} from '../../src/retrying-http-client.js';
+import {
+  JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES,
+  JavaDistribution
+} from '../../src/distributions/package-types.js';
+
+const installerOptions = (packageType: string, version = '25') => ({
+  version,
+  architecture: 'x64',
+  packageType,
+  checkLatest: false
+});
 
 describe('getJavaDistribution', () => {
   it.each([
@@ -33,16 +44,71 @@ describe('getJavaDistribution', () => {
     expect(distribution!['http']).toBeInstanceOf(RetryingHttpClient);
   });
 
+  it.each(
+    Object.entries(JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES).flatMap(
+      ([distributionName, packageTypes]) =>
+        packageTypes.map(packageType => [distributionName, packageType])
+    )
+  )('accepts %s with java-package %s', (distributionName, packageType) => {
+    expect(
+      getJavaDistribution(
+        distributionName,
+        installerOptions(packageType as string)
+      )
+    ).not.toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it.each(Object.entries(JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES))(
+    'rejects unsupported java-package values for %s',
+    (distributionName, packageTypes) => {
+      expect(() =>
+        getJavaDistribution(distributionName, installerOptions('jdk+typo'))
+      ).toThrow(
+        `Java package 'jdk+typo' is not supported for distribution '${distributionName}'. Supported package types: ${packageTypes.join(', ')}.`
+      );
+    }
+  );
+
   it("rejects java-package 'jdk+jmods' for non-Temurin distributions", () => {
     expect(() =>
-      getJavaDistribution('zulu', {
-        version: '25',
-        architecture: 'x64',
-        packageType: 'jdk+jmods',
-        checkLatest: false
-      })
+      getJavaDistribution('zulu', installerOptions('jdk+jmods'))
     ).toThrow(
-      "java-package 'jdk+jmods' is only supported for distribution 'temurin'."
+      "Java package 'jdk+jmods' is not supported for distribution 'zulu'. Supported package types: jdk, jre, jdk+fx, jre+fx, jdk+crac, jre+crac."
     );
   });
+
+  it.each(['8', '23.x', '23.0.1.1', '<24'])(
+    "rejects Temurin java-package 'jdk+jmods' for version %s",
+    version => {
+      expect(() =>
+        getJavaDistribution(
+          JavaDistribution.Temurin,
+          installerOptions('jdk+jmods', version)
+        )
+      ).toThrow(
+        `Java package 'jdk+jmods' is not supported for distribution 'temurin'. Supported package types: jdk, jre, jdk+jmods. Package 'jdk+jmods' requires Java 24 or later; requested version '${version}'.`
+      );
+    }
+  );
+
+  it.each(['24', '24.0.1.1', '25-ea', '>=21', 'latest'])(
+    "accepts Temurin java-package 'jdk+jmods' for version %s",
+    version => {
+      expect(
+        getJavaDistribution(
+          JavaDistribution.Temurin,
+          installerOptions('jdk+jmods', version)
+        )
+      ).not.toBeNull();
+    }
+  );
+
+  it('preserves unsupported distribution handling', () => {
+    expect(
+      getJavaDistribution(
+        'not-a-distribution',
+        installerOptions('not-a-package')
+      )
+    ).toBeNull();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/__tests__/java-package-contract.test.ts b/__tests__/java-package-contract.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea320ef9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__tests__/java-package-contract.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import fs from 'fs';
+import path from 'path';
+import {
+  JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES,
+  JavaDistribution
+} from '../src/distributions/package-types.js';
+
+const repositoryRoot = process.cwd();
+const readRepositoryFile = (filePath: string) =>
+  fs.readFileSync(path.join(repositoryRoot, filePath), 'utf8');
+const allPackageTypes = [
+  ...new Set(Object.values(JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES).flat())
+];
+
+describe('java-package published contract', () => {
+  it.each(['action.yml', 'README.md'])(
+    'documents every supported package type in %s',
+    filePath => {
+      const content = readRepositoryFile(filePath);
+      const contractLine =
+        filePath === 'action.yml'
+          ? content.match(/ {2}java-package:\n(?: {4}.+\n)+/)?.[0]
+          : content
+              .split('\n')
+              .find(line => line.includes('- `java-package`:'));
+
+      expect(contractLine).toBeDefined();
+      for (const packageType of allPackageTypes) {
+        expect(contractLine).toContain(`\`${packageType}\``);
+      }
+    }
+  );
+
+  it.each(Object.entries(JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES))(
+    'keeps the advanced compatibility table aligned for %s',
+    (distributionName, packageTypes) => {
+      const advancedUsage = readRepositoryFile('docs/advanced-usage.md');
+      const compatibilityTable = advancedUsage.slice(
+        advancedUsage.indexOf('### Package compatibility')
+      );
+      const compatibilityRow = compatibilityTable
+        .split('\n')
+        .find(
+          line =>
+            line.startsWith('|') && line.includes(`\`${distributionName}\``)
+        );
+
+      expect(compatibilityRow).toBeDefined();
+      for (const packageType of packageTypes) {
+        expect(compatibilityRow).toContain(`\`${packageType}\``);
+      }
+    }
+  );
+
+  it('only exercises supported distribution/package combinations in E2E', () => {
+    const workflow = readRepositoryFile('.github/workflows/e2e-versions.yml');
+    const defaultMatrix = workflow.match(
+      /distribution:\s*\n\s*\[([^\]]+)\]\s*\n\s*java-package:\s*\['([^']+)'\]/
+    );
+    expect(defaultMatrix).not.toBeNull();
+
+    const defaultDistributions = [
+      ...defaultMatrix![1].matchAll(/'([^']+)'/g)
+    ].map(match => match[1]);
+    const defaultPackage = defaultMatrix![2];
+    for (const distributionName of defaultDistributions) {
+      expect(supportedPackagesFor(distributionName)).toContain(defaultPackage);
+    }
+
+    const includedPackages = workflow.matchAll(
+      /- distribution: '([^']+)'\s*\n\s*java-package: ([^\s]+)/g
+    );
+    for (const match of includedPackages) {
+      const [, distributionName, packageType] = match;
+      expect(supportedPackagesFor(distributionName)).toContain(packageType);
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+function supportedPackagesFor(distributionName: string): readonly string[] {
+  return JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES[distributionName as JavaDistribution] ?? [];
+}
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 264238d3..d980a9dd 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ inputs:
     description: 'Java distribution. See the list of supported distributions in README file. This input is required except when java-version-file points to .sdkmanrc with a recognized distribution suffix (e.g., java=21.0.5-tem).'
     required: false
   java-package:
-    description: 'The package type (jdk, jre, jdk+fx, jre+fx, jdk+crac, jre+crac, jdk+jmods)'
+    description: 'The package type (`jdk`, `jre`, `jdk+fx`, `jre+fx`, `jdk+crac`, `jre+crac`, `jdk+jmods`, `jdk+jcef`, `jre+jcef`, `jdk+ft`, or `jre+ft`). Supported values vary by distribution.'
     required: false
     default: 'jdk'
   architecture:
diff --git a/dist/setup/index.js b/dist/setup/index.js
index 7f15ff1a..bd129e37 100644
--- a/dist/setup/index.js
+++ b/dist/setup/index.js
@@ -132121,21 +132121,7 @@ class OpenJdkDistribution extends JavaBase {
     }
 }
 
-;// CONCATENATED MODULE: ./src/distributions/distribution-factory.ts
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+;// CONCATENATED MODULE: ./src/distributions/package-types.ts
 
 
 var JavaDistribution;
@@ -132160,11 +132146,108 @@ var JavaDistribution;
     JavaDistribution["Kona"] = "kona";
     JavaDistribution["OracleOpenJdk"] = "oracle-openjdk";
 })(JavaDistribution || (JavaDistribution = {}));
-function getJavaDistribution(distributionName, installerOptions, jdkFile) {
-    if (installerOptions.packageType === 'jdk+jmods' &&
-        distributionName !== JavaDistribution.Temurin) {
-        throw new Error("java-package 'jdk+jmods' is only supported for distribution 'temurin'.");
+const JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES = {
+    [JavaDistribution.Adopt]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+    [JavaDistribution.AdoptHotspot]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+    [JavaDistribution.AdoptOpenJ9]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+    [JavaDistribution.Temurin]: ['jdk', 'jre', 'jdk+jmods'],
+    [JavaDistribution.Zulu]: [
+        'jdk',
+        'jre',
+        'jdk+fx',
+        'jre+fx',
+        'jdk+crac',
+        'jre+crac'
+    ],
+    [JavaDistribution.Liberica]: ['jdk', 'jre', 'jdk+fx', 'jre+fx'],
+    [JavaDistribution.LibericaNik]: ['jdk', 'jdk+fx'],
+    [JavaDistribution.JdkFile]: ['jdk'],
+    [JavaDistribution.Microsoft]: ['jdk'],
+    [JavaDistribution.Semeru]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+    [JavaDistribution.Corretto]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+    [JavaDistribution.Oracle]: ['jdk'],
+    [JavaDistribution.Dragonwell]: ['jdk'],
+    [JavaDistribution.SapMachine]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+    [JavaDistribution.GraalVM]: ['jdk'],
+    [JavaDistribution.GraalVMCommunity]: ['jdk'],
+    [JavaDistribution.JetBrains]: [
+        'jdk',
+        'jre',
+        'jdk+jcef',
+        'jre+jcef',
+        'jdk+ft',
+        'jre+ft'
+    ],
+    [JavaDistribution.Kona]: ['jdk'],
+    [JavaDistribution.OracleOpenJdk]: ['jdk']
+};
+function validateJavaPackage(distributionName, packageType, version) {
+    if (!isJavaDistribution(distributionName)) {
+        return;
     }
+    const supportedPackages = JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES[distributionName];
+    if (!supportedPackages.includes(packageType)) {
+        throw createUnsupportedPackageError(distributionName, packageType, supportedPackages);
+    }
+    if (distributionName === JavaDistribution.Temurin &&
+        packageType === 'jdk+jmods' &&
+        !canResolveTemurinJmods(version)) {
+        throw createUnsupportedPackageError(distributionName, packageType, supportedPackages, `Package 'jdk+jmods' requires Java 24 or later; requested version '${version}'.`);
+    }
+}
+function isJavaDistribution(value) {
+    return Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES, value);
+}
+function canResolveTemurinJmods(version) {
+    const normalizedVersion = version.trim().toLowerCase();
+    if (normalizedVersion === 'latest') {
+        return true;
+    }
+    let normalizedRange = normalizedVersion
+        .replace(/-ea$/, '')
+        .replace('-ea.', '+');
+    if (/^\d+(\.\d+){3,}$/.test(normalizedRange)) {
+        normalizedRange = convertVersionToSemver(normalizedRange);
+    }
+    if (!semver_default().validRange(normalizedRange)) {
+        // JavaBase owns general version validation and its targeted error messages.
+        return true;
+    }
+    return semver_default().intersects(normalizedRange, '>=24.0.0', {
+        includePrerelease: true
+    });
+}
+function createUnsupportedPackageError(distributionName, packageType, supportedPackages, detail) {
+    const message = [
+        `Java package '${packageType}' is not supported for distribution '${distributionName}'.`,
+        `Supported package types: ${supportedPackages.join(', ')}.`
+    ];
+    if (detail) {
+        message.push(detail);
+    }
+    return new Error(message.join(' '));
+}
+
+;// CONCATENATED MODULE: ./src/distributions/distribution-factory.ts
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+function getJavaDistribution(distributionName, installerOptions, jdkFile) {
+    validateJavaPackage(distributionName, installerOptions.packageType, installerOptions.version);
     switch (distributionName) {
         case JavaDistribution.JdkFile:
             return new LocalDistribution(installerOptions, jdkFile);
diff --git a/docs/advanced-usage.md b/docs/advanced-usage.md
index 0b93e5a8..9c4ef5de 100644
--- a/docs/advanced-usage.md
+++ b/docs/advanced-usage.md
@@ -321,12 +321,10 @@ The package types have these meanings:
 | `graalvm-community` | `jdk` | Stable GraalVM Community releases for JDK 17 and later only. |
 | `jetbrains` | `jdk`, `jre`, `jdk+jcef`, `jre+jcef`, `jdk+ft`, `jre+ft` | JetBrains publishes selected LTS-based releases rather than every OpenJDK patch. JDK/JRE and JCEF bundles start with the Java 11 release family; FreeType bundles start with Java 17. Exact package, LTS family, patch, OS, and architecture availability is determined from release assets. |
 | `kona` | `jdk` | Stable Java 8, 11, 17, 21, and 25 releases only. |
-| `jdkfile` | `jdk` (recommended) | The package contents and version are supplied by `jdk-file`; `setup-java` does not validate them. `java-package` only separates the local archive's tool-cache entry, so use `jdk` unless separate cache namespaces are required. |
+| `jdkfile` | `jdk` | The package contents and version are supplied by `jdk-file`; `setup-java` validates the package type but does not inspect the archive contents. |
 
-Values outside this table are unsupported even when a distribution forwards the
-value to its vendor API instead of rejecting it immediately. In that case, the
-action normally fails with a version-not-found error because no matching
-artifact exists.
+Values outside this table are unsupported. The action rejects them before
+checking the tool cache or requesting a vendor catalog.
 
 ```yaml
 steps:
diff --git a/src/distributions/distribution-factory.ts b/src/distributions/distribution-factory.ts
index 7dcce64d..7cc578ca 100644
--- a/src/distributions/distribution-factory.ts
+++ b/src/distributions/distribution-factory.ts
@@ -22,42 +22,18 @@ import {
 import {JetBrainsDistribution} from './jetbrains/installer.js';
 import {KonaDistribution} from './kona/installer.js';
 import {OpenJdkDistribution} from './openjdk/installer.js';
-
-enum JavaDistribution {
-  Adopt = 'adopt',
-  AdoptHotspot = 'adopt-hotspot',
-  AdoptOpenJ9 = 'adopt-openj9',
-  Temurin = 'temurin',
-  Zulu = 'zulu',
-  Liberica = 'liberica',
-  LibericaNik = 'liberica-nik',
-  JdkFile = 'jdkfile',
-  Microsoft = 'microsoft',
-  Semeru = 'semeru',
-  Corretto = 'corretto',
-  Oracle = 'oracle',
-  Dragonwell = 'dragonwell',
-  SapMachine = 'sapmachine',
-  GraalVM = 'graalvm',
-  GraalVMCommunity = 'graalvm-community',
-  JetBrains = 'jetbrains',
-  Kona = 'kona',
-  OracleOpenJdk = 'oracle-openjdk'
-}
+import {JavaDistribution, validateJavaPackage} from './package-types.js';
 
 export function getJavaDistribution(
   distributionName: string,
   installerOptions: JavaInstallerOptions,
   jdkFile?: string
 ): JavaBase | null {
-  if (
-    installerOptions.packageType === 'jdk+jmods' &&
-    distributionName !== JavaDistribution.Temurin
-  ) {
-    throw new Error(
-      "java-package 'jdk+jmods' is only supported for distribution 'temurin'."
-    );
-  }
+  validateJavaPackage(
+    distributionName,
+    installerOptions.packageType,
+    installerOptions.version
+  );
 
   switch (distributionName) {
     case JavaDistribution.JdkFile:
diff --git a/src/distributions/package-types.ts b/src/distributions/package-types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c79830c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/distributions/package-types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+import semver from 'semver';
+import {convertVersionToSemver} from '../util.js';
+
+export enum JavaDistribution {
+  Adopt = 'adopt',
+  AdoptHotspot = 'adopt-hotspot',
+  AdoptOpenJ9 = 'adopt-openj9',
+  Temurin = 'temurin',
+  Zulu = 'zulu',
+  Liberica = 'liberica',
+  LibericaNik = 'liberica-nik',
+  JdkFile = 'jdkfile',
+  Microsoft = 'microsoft',
+  Semeru = 'semeru',
+  Corretto = 'corretto',
+  Oracle = 'oracle',
+  Dragonwell = 'dragonwell',
+  SapMachine = 'sapmachine',
+  GraalVM = 'graalvm',
+  GraalVMCommunity = 'graalvm-community',
+  JetBrains = 'jetbrains',
+  Kona = 'kona',
+  OracleOpenJdk = 'oracle-openjdk'
+}
+
+export const JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES = {
+  [JavaDistribution.Adopt]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+  [JavaDistribution.AdoptHotspot]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+  [JavaDistribution.AdoptOpenJ9]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+  [JavaDistribution.Temurin]: ['jdk', 'jre', 'jdk+jmods'],
+  [JavaDistribution.Zulu]: [
+    'jdk',
+    'jre',
+    'jdk+fx',
+    'jre+fx',
+    'jdk+crac',
+    'jre+crac'
+  ],
+  [JavaDistribution.Liberica]: ['jdk', 'jre', 'jdk+fx', 'jre+fx'],
+  [JavaDistribution.LibericaNik]: ['jdk', 'jdk+fx'],
+  [JavaDistribution.JdkFile]: ['jdk'],
+  [JavaDistribution.Microsoft]: ['jdk'],
+  [JavaDistribution.Semeru]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+  [JavaDistribution.Corretto]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+  [JavaDistribution.Oracle]: ['jdk'],
+  [JavaDistribution.Dragonwell]: ['jdk'],
+  [JavaDistribution.SapMachine]: ['jdk', 'jre'],
+  [JavaDistribution.GraalVM]: ['jdk'],
+  [JavaDistribution.GraalVMCommunity]: ['jdk'],
+  [JavaDistribution.JetBrains]: [
+    'jdk',
+    'jre',
+    'jdk+jcef',
+    'jre+jcef',
+    'jdk+ft',
+    'jre+ft'
+  ],
+  [JavaDistribution.Kona]: ['jdk'],
+  [JavaDistribution.OracleOpenJdk]: ['jdk']
+} as const satisfies Record<JavaDistribution, readonly string[]>;
+
+export function validateJavaPackage(
+  distributionName: string,
+  packageType: string,
+  version: string
+): void {
+  if (!isJavaDistribution(distributionName)) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const supportedPackages: readonly string[] =
+    JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES[distributionName];
+  if (!supportedPackages.includes(packageType)) {
+    throw createUnsupportedPackageError(
+      distributionName,
+      packageType,
+      supportedPackages
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (
+    distributionName === JavaDistribution.Temurin &&
+    packageType === 'jdk+jmods' &&
+    !canResolveTemurinJmods(version)
+  ) {
+    throw createUnsupportedPackageError(
+      distributionName,
+      packageType,
+      supportedPackages,
+      `Package 'jdk+jmods' requires Java 24 or later; requested version '${version}'.`
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+function isJavaDistribution(value: string): value is JavaDistribution {
+  return Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(JAVA_PACKAGE_CAPABILITIES, value);
+}
+
+function canResolveTemurinJmods(version: string): boolean {
+  const normalizedVersion = version.trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (normalizedVersion === 'latest') {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  let normalizedRange = normalizedVersion
+    .replace(/-ea$/, '')
+    .replace('-ea.', '+');
+  if (/^\d+(\.\d+){3,}$/.test(normalizedRange)) {
+    normalizedRange = convertVersionToSemver(normalizedRange);
+  }
+  if (!semver.validRange(normalizedRange)) {
+    // JavaBase owns general version validation and its targeted error messages.
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  return semver.intersects(normalizedRange, '>=24.0.0', {
+    includePrerelease: true
+  });
+}
+
+function createUnsupportedPackageError(
+  distributionName: JavaDistribution,
+  packageType: string,
+  supportedPackages: readonly string[],
+  detail?: string
+): Error {
+  const message = [
+    `Java package '${packageType}' is not supported for distribution '${distributionName}'.`,
+    `Supported package types: ${supportedPackages.join(', ')}.`
+  ];
+  if (detail) {
+    message.push(detail);
+  }
+  return new Error(message.join(' '));
+}