diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/components/recipe-studio-header.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/components/recipe-studio-header.tsx
index afd7c35fab..4a4df6df45 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/components/recipe-studio-header.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/components/recipe-studio-header.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import { type KeyboardEvent, type ReactElement, useState } from "react";
 import {
   CookBookIcon,
   FloppyDiskIcon,
-  TestTubeIcon,
 } from "@hugeicons/core-free-icons";
 import { HugeiconsIcon } from "@hugeicons/react";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
@@ -15,16 +14,12 @@ type StatusTone = "success" | "error";
 
 type RecipeStudioHeaderProps = {
   activeView: RecipeStudioView;
-  previewLoading: boolean;
-  fullLoading: boolean;
   saveLoading: boolean;
   saveTone: StatusTone;
   savedAtLabel: string;
   workflowName: string;
   onWorkflowNameChange: (value: string) => void;
   onViewChange: (view: RecipeStudioView) => void;
-  onPreview: () => void;
-  onRunFull: () => void;
   onSaveRecipe: () => void;
 };
 
@@ -35,16 +30,12 @@ const STATUS_MESSAGE_CLASS: Record<StatusTone, string> = {
 
 export function RecipeStudioHeader({
   activeView,
-  previewLoading,
-  fullLoading,
   saveLoading,
   saveTone,
   savedAtLabel,
   workflowName,
   onWorkflowNameChange,
   onViewChange,
-  onPreview,
-  onRunFull,
   onSaveRecipe,
 }: RecipeStudioHeaderProps): ReactElement {
   const [editingWorkflowName, setEditingWorkflowName] = useState(false);
@@ -116,14 +107,6 @@ export function RecipeStudioHeader({
         </Tabs>
       </div>
       <div className="flex items-center justify-self-end gap-2">
-        <Button type="button" size="sm" onClick={onPreview} disabled={previewLoading}>
-          <HugeiconsIcon icon={TestTubeIcon} className="size-3.5" />
-          {previewLoading ? "Previewing..." : "Preview"}
-        </Button>
-        <Button type="button" size="sm" onClick={onRunFull} disabled={fullLoading}>
-          <HugeiconsIcon icon={TestTubeIcon} className="size-3.5" />
-          {fullLoading ? "Starting..." : "Full run"}
-        </Button>
         <Button
           type="button"
           size="sm"
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/dialogs/preview-dialog.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/dialogs/preview-dialog.tsx
index 33c1fcd078..39563e2278 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/dialogs/preview-dialog.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/dialogs/preview-dialog.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 import { type ReactElement, useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import {
+  CookBookIcon,
+  TestTube01Icon,
+} from "@hugeicons/core-free-icons";
+import { HugeiconsIcon } from "@hugeicons/react";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import {
   Collapsible,
@@ -22,13 +27,21 @@ type RunDialogProps = {
   open: boolean;
   onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void;
   kind: RecipeExecutionKind;
+  onKindChange: (kind: RecipeExecutionKind) => void;
   rows: number;
   onRowsChange: (rows: number) => void;
   settings: RecipeRunSettings;
   onSettingsChange: (patch: Partial<RecipeRunSettings>) => void;
   loading: boolean;
+  validateLoading: boolean;
+  validateResult: {
+    valid: boolean;
+    errors: string[];
+    rawDetail: string | null;
+  } | null;
   errors: string[];
   onRun: () => void;
+  onValidate: () => void;
   container?: HTMLDivElement | null;
 };
 
@@ -63,13 +76,17 @@ export function RunDialog({
   open,
   onOpenChange,
   kind,
+  onKindChange,
   rows,
   onRowsChange,
   settings,
   onSettingsChange,
   loading,
+  validateLoading,
+  validateResult,
   errors,
   onRun,
+  onValidate,
   container,
 }: RunDialogProps): ReactElement {
   const [advancedOpen, setAdvancedOpen] = useState(false);
@@ -98,6 +115,16 @@ export function RunDialog({
           </p>
         </DialogHeader>
 
+        <label className="flex items-center justify-between rounded-xl border bg-muted/20 px-3 py-2 text-sm">
+          <span className="font-medium text-foreground">Preview mode</span>
+          <Switch
+            checked={kind === "preview"}
+            onCheckedChange={(checked) =>
+              onKindChange(checked ? "preview" : "full")
+            }
+          />
+        </label>
+
         <div className="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-3">
           <div className="grid gap-2">
             <FieldLabel
@@ -319,7 +346,7 @@ export function RunDialog({
         {errors.length > 0 && (
           <div className="max-h-44 space-y-1 overflow-y-auto rounded-xl border border-destructive/30 bg-destructive/5 p-3">
             <p className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-destructive">
-              Validation errors
+              Run checks
             </p>
             {errors.map((error) => (
               <p key={error} className="text-xs text-destructive">
@@ -329,6 +356,38 @@ export function RunDialog({
           </div>
         )}
 
+        {validateResult && (
+          <div
+            className={
+              validateResult.valid
+                ? "space-y-1 rounded-xl border border-emerald-300 bg-emerald-50 p-3"
+                : "space-y-1 rounded-xl border border-destructive/30 bg-destructive/5 p-3"
+            }
+          >
+            <p
+              className={
+                validateResult.valid
+                  ? "text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-emerald-700"
+                  : "text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-destructive"
+              }
+            >
+              {validateResult.valid ? "Validation passed" : "Validation failed"}
+            </p>
+            {!validateResult.valid && validateResult.errors.length > 0 && (
+              <div className="space-y-1">
+                {validateResult.errors.map((error) => (
+                  <p key={error} className="text-xs text-destructive">
+                    {error}
+                  </p>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            )}
+            {!validateResult.valid && validateResult.rawDetail && (
+              <p className="text-xs text-destructive">{validateResult.rawDetail}</p>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        )}
+
         <DialogFooter>
           <Button
             type="button"
@@ -338,7 +397,17 @@ export function RunDialog({
           >
             Cancel
           </Button>
+          <Button
+            type="button"
+            variant="outline"
+            onClick={onValidate}
+            disabled={loading || validateLoading}
+          >
+            <HugeiconsIcon icon={TestTube01Icon} className="size-3.5" />
+            {validateLoading ? "Validating..." : "Validate recipe"}
+          </Button>
           <Button type="button" onClick={onRun} disabled={loading}>
+            <HugeiconsIcon icon={CookBookIcon} className="size-3.5" />
             {loading ? "Starting..." : `Start ${kindLabel.toLowerCase()}`}
           </Button>
         </DialogFooter>
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-executions.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-executions.ts
index 98690824f2..5605d52ae9 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-executions.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-executions.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { useShallow } from "zustand/react/shallow";
 import { toastError } from "@/shared/toast";
 import {
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ type UseRecipeExecutionsParams = {
 type UseRecipeExecutionsResult = {
   runDialogOpen: boolean;
   runDialogKind: RecipeExecutionKind;
+  setRunDialogKind: (kind: RecipeExecutionKind) => void;
   setRunDialogOpen: (open: boolean) => void;
   previewRows: number;
   fullRows: number;
@@ -61,6 +62,13 @@ type UseRecipeExecutionsResult = {
   setSelectedExecutionId: (id: string) => void;
   openRunDialog: (kind: RecipeExecutionKind) => void;
   runFromDialog: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  validateFromDialog: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  validateLoading: boolean;
+  validateResult: {
+    valid: boolean;
+    errors: string[];
+    rawDetail: string | null;
+  } | null;
   runPreview: () => Promise<boolean>;
   runFull: () => Promise<boolean>;
   cancelExecution: (id: string) => Promise<void>;
@@ -74,6 +82,12 @@ export function useRecipeExecutions({
   onExecutionStart,
   onPreviewSuccess,
 }: UseRecipeExecutionsParams): UseRecipeExecutionsResult {
+  const [validateLoading, setValidateLoading] = useState(false);
+  const [validateResult, setValidateResult] = useState<{
+    valid: boolean;
+    errors: string[];
+    rawDetail: string | null;
+  } | null>(null);
   const {
     runDialogOpen,
     runDialogKind,
@@ -335,9 +349,64 @@ export function useRecipeExecutions({
     return runFull();
   }, [runDialogKind, runFull, runPreview]);
 
+  const validateFromDialog = useCallback(async (): Promise<boolean> => {
+    const payload = readPayload();
+    if (!payload) {
+      const nextErrors = payloadResult.errors.length > 0
+        ? payloadResult.errors
+        : [payloadErrorMessage];
+      setValidateResult({
+        valid: false,
+        errors: nextErrors,
+        rawDetail: null,
+      });
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    const rows = runDialogKind === "preview" ? previewRows : fullRows;
+    const normalizedRows = sanitizeExecutionRows(rows, runDialogKind);
+    const executionPayload = buildExecutionPayload({
+      payload,
+      kind: runDialogKind,
+      rows: normalizedRows,
+      settings: runSettings,
+    });
+
+    setValidateLoading(true);
+    try {
+      const validation = await validateRecipe(executionPayload);
+      const errors = validation.errors.map((item) => item.message);
+      setValidateResult({
+        valid: validation.valid,
+        errors,
+        rawDetail: validation.raw_detail ?? null,
+      });
+      return validation.valid;
+    } catch (error) {
+      const message = toErrorMessage(error, "Validation failed.");
+      setValidateResult({
+        valid: false,
+        errors: [message],
+        rawDetail: null,
+      });
+      return false;
+    } finally {
+      setValidateLoading(false);
+    }
+  }, [
+    fullRows,
+    payloadErrorMessage,
+    payloadResult.errors,
+    previewRows,
+    readPayload,
+    runDialogKind,
+    runSettings,
+  ]);
+
   const openRunDialog = useCallback(
     (kind: RecipeExecutionKind): void => {
       setRunErrors([]);
+      setValidateResult(null);
       setRunDialogKind(kind);
       if (kind === "full") {
         const payload = readPayload();
@@ -418,6 +487,7 @@ export function useRecipeExecutions({
   return {
     runDialogOpen,
     runDialogKind,
+    setRunDialogKind,
     setRunDialogOpen,
     previewRows,
     fullRows,
@@ -433,6 +503,9 @@ export function useRecipeExecutions({
     setSelectedExecutionId,
     openRunDialog,
     runFromDialog,
+    validateFromDialog,
+    validateLoading,
+    validateResult,
     runPreview,
     runFull,
     cancelExecution,
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-studio-actions.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-studio-actions.ts
index 119c5f2355..bb7531233b 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-studio-actions.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/hooks/use-recipe-studio-actions.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ type UseRecipeStudioActionsResult = {
   setImportOpen: (open: boolean) => void;
   runDialogOpen: boolean;
   runDialogKind: RecipeExecutionKind;
+  setRunDialogKind: (kind: RecipeExecutionKind) => void;
   setRunDialogOpen: (open: boolean) => void;
   previewRows: number;
   fullRows: number;
@@ -61,6 +62,13 @@ type UseRecipeStudioActionsResult = {
   persistRecipe: () => Promise<void>;
   openRunDialog: (kind: RecipeExecutionKind) => void;
   runFromDialog: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  validateFromDialog: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  validateLoading: boolean;
+  validateResult: {
+    valid: boolean;
+    errors: string[];
+    rawDetail: string | null;
+  } | null;
   runPreview: () => Promise<boolean>;
   runFull: () => Promise<boolean>;
   cancelExecution: (id: string) => Promise<void>;
@@ -113,6 +121,7 @@ export function useRecipeStudioActions({
     setImportOpen: persistence.setImportOpen,
     runDialogOpen: executions.runDialogOpen,
     runDialogKind: executions.runDialogKind,
+    setRunDialogKind: executions.setRunDialogKind,
     setRunDialogOpen: executions.setRunDialogOpen,
     previewRows: executions.previewRows,
     fullRows: executions.fullRows,
@@ -130,6 +139,9 @@ export function useRecipeStudioActions({
     persistRecipe: persistence.persistRecipe,
     openRunDialog: executions.openRunDialog,
     runFromDialog: executions.runFromDialog,
+    validateFromDialog: executions.validateFromDialog,
+    validateLoading: executions.validateLoading,
+    validateResult: executions.validateResult,
     runPreview: executions.runPreview,
     runFull: executions.runFull,
     cancelExecution: executions.cancelExecution,
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/recipe-studio-page.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/recipe-studio-page.tsx
index 1308428916..dcb7621dc9 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/recipe-studio-page.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/recipe-studio/recipe-studio-page.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@ import {
   Panel,
   ReactFlow,
 } from "@xyflow/react";
-import { PlusSignIcon } from "@hugeicons/core-free-icons";
+import {
+  CookBookIcon,
+  PlusSignIcon,
+  TestTube01Icon,
+} from "@hugeicons/core-free-icons";
 import { HugeiconsIcon } from "@hugeicons/react";
 import {
   type ReactElement,
@@ -31,6 +35,7 @@ import { RecipeStudioHeader } from "./components/recipe-studio-header";
 import { RecipeNode } from "./components/recipe-graph-node";
 import { RecipeGraphSemanticEdge } from "./components/recipe-graph-semantic-edge";
 import { DataEdge } from "./components/rf-ui/data-edge";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { ConfigDialog } from "./dialogs/config-dialog";
 import { ImportDialog } from "./dialogs/import-dialog";
 import { RunDialog } from "./dialogs/preview-dialog";
@@ -283,6 +288,7 @@ export function RecipeStudioPage({
     setImportOpen,
     runDialogOpen,
     runDialogKind,
+    setRunDialogKind,
     setRunDialogOpen,
     previewRows,
     fullRows,
@@ -300,6 +306,9 @@ export function RecipeStudioPage({
     persistRecipe,
     openRunDialog,
     runFromDialog,
+    validateFromDialog,
+    validateLoading,
+    validateResult,
     cancelExecution,
     loadExecutionDatasetPage,
     copyRecipe,
@@ -346,16 +355,12 @@ export function RecipeStudioPage({
         >
           <RecipeStudioHeader
             activeView={activeView}
-            previewLoading={previewLoading}
-            fullLoading={fullLoading}
             saveLoading={saveLoading}
             saveTone={saveTone}
             savedAtLabel={savedAtLabel}
             workflowName={workflowName}
             onWorkflowNameChange={setWorkflowName}
             onViewChange={setActiveView}
-            onPreview={() => openRunDialog("preview")}
-            onRunFull={() => openRunDialog("full")}
             onSaveRecipe={() => {
               void persistRecipe();
             }}
@@ -441,6 +446,32 @@ export function RecipeStudioPage({
                   interactive={interactive}
                   onToggleInteractive={toggleInteractive}
                 />
+                <div className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-x-0 bottom-3 z-20 flex justify-center">
+                  <div className="pointer-events-auto flex items-center gap-2">
+                    <Button
+                      type="button"
+                      className="h-11 px-5"
+                      onClick={() => openRunDialog(runDialogKind)}
+                      disabled={previewLoading || fullLoading}
+                    >
+                      <HugeiconsIcon icon={CookBookIcon} className="size-4" />
+                      {previewLoading || fullLoading ? "Running..." : "Run"}
+                    </Button>
+                    <Button
+                      type="button"
+                      variant="outline"
+                      className="h-11 px-5"
+                      onClick={() => {
+                        openRunDialog(runDialogKind);
+                        void validateFromDialog();
+                      }}
+                      disabled={validateLoading}
+                    >
+                      <HugeiconsIcon icon={TestTube01Icon} className="size-4" />
+                      {validateLoading ? "Validating..." : "Validate"}
+                    </Button>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
               </ReactFlow>
             ) : (
               <ExecutionsView
@@ -487,6 +518,7 @@ export function RecipeStudioPage({
         open={runDialogOpen}
         onOpenChange={setRunDialogOpen}
         kind={runDialogKind}
+        onKindChange={setRunDialogKind}
         rows={runDialogRows}
         onRowsChange={(rows) => {
           if (runDialogKind === "preview") {
@@ -498,7 +530,12 @@ export function RecipeStudioPage({
         settings={runSettings}
         onSettingsChange={setRunSettings}
         loading={runDialogLoading}
+        validateLoading={validateLoading}
+        validateResult={validateResult}
         errors={runErrors}
+        onValidate={() => {
+          void validateFromDialog();
+        }}
         onRun={() => {
           void runFromDialog();
         }}