diff --git a/.surface b/.surface
index 03010afe..5f7c4cee 100644
--- a/.surface
+++ b/.surface
@@ -11606,7 +11606,6 @@ FLAG basecamp templates --profile type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates --project type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates --quiet type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates --stats type=bool
-FLAG basecamp templates --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates --verbose type=count
@@ -11631,7 +11630,6 @@ FLAG basecamp templates construct --profile type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construct --project type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construct --quiet type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates construct --stats type=bool
-FLAG basecamp templates construct --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construct --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates construct --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construct --verbose type=count
@@ -11653,7 +11651,6 @@ FLAG basecamp templates construction --profile type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construction --project type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construction --quiet type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates construction --stats type=bool
-FLAG basecamp templates construction --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construction --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates construction --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates construction --verbose type=count
@@ -11678,7 +11675,6 @@ FLAG basecamp templates create --profile type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates create --project type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates create --quiet type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates create --stats type=bool
-FLAG basecamp templates create --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates create --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates create --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates create --verbose type=count
@@ -11700,7 +11696,6 @@ FLAG basecamp templates delete --profile type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates delete --project type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates delete --quiet type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates delete --stats type=bool
-FLAG basecamp templates delete --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates delete --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates delete --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates delete --verbose type=count
@@ -11744,7 +11739,6 @@ FLAG basecamp templates show --profile type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates show --project type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates show --quiet type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates show --stats type=bool
-FLAG basecamp templates show --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates show --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates show --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates show --verbose type=count
@@ -11769,7 +11763,6 @@ FLAG basecamp templates update --profile type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates update --project type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates update --quiet type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates update --stats type=bool
-FLAG basecamp templates update --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates update --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp templates update --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp templates update --verbose type=count
diff --git a/.surface-breaking b/.surface-breaking
index 3df26d10..342ab672 100644
--- a/.surface-breaking
+++ b/.surface-breaking
@@ -669,6 +669,13 @@ FLAG basecamp reopen --styled type=bool
 FLAG basecamp reopen --todolist type=string
 FLAG basecamp reopen --verbose type=count
 FLAG basecamp reopen --version type=bool
+FLAG basecamp templates --status type=string
+FLAG basecamp templates construct --status type=string
+FLAG basecamp templates construction --status type=string
+FLAG basecamp templates create --status type=string
+FLAG basecamp templates delete --status type=string
+FLAG basecamp templates show --status type=string
+FLAG basecamp templates update --status type=string
 FLAG basecamp tlgroup create --name type=string
 FLAG basecamp tlgroup rename --name type=string
 FLAG basecamp tlgroup update --name type=string
diff --git a/e2e/templates.bats b/e2e/templates.bats
index 54441072..fc57f40f 100644
--- a/e2e/templates.bats
+++ b/e2e/templates.bats
@@ -133,15 +133,24 @@ load test_helper
 
 # Flag parsing
 
-@test "templates --status without value shows error" {
+@test "templates list --status without value shows error" {
   create_credentials
   create_global_config '{"account_id": 99999}'
 
-  run basecamp templates --status
+  run basecamp templates list --status
   assert_failure
   assert_output_contains "--status requires a value"
 }
 
+@test "templates list --status with invalid value shows error" {
+  create_credentials
+  create_global_config '{"account_id": 99999}'
+
+  run basecamp templates list --status bogus
+  assert_failure
+  assert_output_contains "unknown --status value"
+}
+
 
 # Help
 
diff --git a/internal/commands/templates.go b/internal/commands/templates.go
index 8709956b..654ba376 100644
--- a/internal/commands/templates.go
+++ b/internal/commands/templates.go
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ import (
 
 // NewTemplatesCmd creates the templates command for managing project templates.
 func NewTemplatesCmd() *cobra.Command {
-	var status string
-
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "templates",
 		Short: "Manage project templates",
@@ -27,10 +25,8 @@ tools, and content.`,
 		Annotations: map[string]string{"agent_notes": "Construction from template is asynchronous — poll construction until status=completed to get the new project ID"},
 	}
 
-	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&status, "status", "active", "Filter: active, archived, trashed")
-
 	cmd.AddCommand(
-		newTemplatesListCmd(&status),
+		newTemplatesListCmd(),
 		newTemplatesShowCmd(),
 		newTemplatesCreateCmd(),
 		newTemplatesUpdateCmd(),
@@ -42,18 +38,33 @@ tools, and content.`,
 	return cmd
 }
 
-func newTemplatesListCmd(status *string) *cobra.Command {
-	return &cobra.Command{
+func newTemplatesListCmd() *cobra.Command {
+	var status string
+
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "list",
 		Short: "List templates",
 		Long:  "List all project templates.",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			return runTemplatesList(cmd, *status)
+			return runTemplatesList(cmd, status)
 		},
 	}
+
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&status, "status", "active", "Filter: active, archived, trashed")
+
+	return cmd
 }
 
 func runTemplatesList(cmd *cobra.Command, status string) error {
+	// Validate before the value reaches the request URL — only the lifecycle
+	// filters the API understands are allowed.
+	switch status {
+	case "", "active", "archived", "trashed":
+	default:
+		return output.ErrUsage(
+			fmt.Sprintf("unknown --status value %q (expected active, archived, or trashed)", status))
+	}
+
 	app := appctx.FromContext(cmd.Context())
 
 	if err := ensureAccount(cmd, app); err != nil {