diff --git a/e2e/lockfile/test_lockfile_locked_mode b/e2e/lockfile/test_lockfile_locked_mode
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8257cf4e8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/lockfile/test_lockfile_locked_mode
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Test --locked mode enforcement during install and dry-run
+
+export MISE_LOCKFILE=1
+
+detect_platform
+PLATFORM="$MISE_PLATFORM"
+
+# Use jq via aqua backend, which supports lockfile URLs
+cat <<'EOF' >mise.toml
+[tools]
+jq = "1.7.1"
+EOF
+
+# Uninstall jq so it's not already present
+mise uninstall jq@1.7.1 2>/dev/null || true
+
+# --- Test 1: --locked fails when no lockfile URL exists ---
+cat <<EOF >mise.lock
+[[tools.jq]]
+version = "1.7.1"
+backend = "aqua:jqlang/jq"
+EOF
+
+assert_fail_contains "mise install --locked 2>&1" "No lockfile URL found"
+
+# --- Test 2: --locked --dry-run also fails when no lockfile URL exists ---
+# This is the key behavior: locked validation must run before dry-run short-circuit
+assert_fail_contains "mise install --locked --dry-run 2>&1" "No lockfile URL found"
+
+# --- Test 3: --locked --dry-run succeeds when lockfile URL exists ---
+cat <<EOF >mise.lock
+[[tools.jq]]
+version = "1.7.1"
+backend = "aqua:jqlang/jq"
+"platforms.$PLATFORM" = { url = "https://example.com/jq-1.7.1.tar.gz" }
+EOF
+
+assert_contains "mise install --locked --dry-run 2>&1" "would install"
diff --git a/src/backend/mod.rs b/src/backend/mod.rs
index 8089e5f040..10a43f4c85 100644
--- a/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -861,6 +861,27 @@ pub trait Backend: Debug + Send + Sync {
         ctx: InstallContext,
         tv: ToolVersion,
     ) -> eyre::Result<ToolVersion> {
+        // Check for --locked mode: if enabled and no lockfile URL exists, fail early
+        // Exempt tool stubs from lockfile requirements since they are ephemeral
+        // Also exempt backends that don't support URL locking (e.g., Rust uses rustup)
+        // This must run before the dry-run check so that --locked --dry-run still validates
+        if ctx.locked && !tv.request.source().is_tool_stub() && self.supports_lockfile_url() {
+            let platform_key = self.get_platform_key();
+            let has_lockfile_url = tv
+                .lock_platforms
+                .get(&platform_key)
+                .and_then(|p| p.url.as_ref())
+                .is_some();
+            if !has_lockfile_url {
+                bail!(
+                    "No lockfile URL found for {} on platform {} (--locked mode)\n\
+                    hint: Run `mise lock` to generate lockfile URLs, or disable locked mode",
+                    tv.style(),
+                    platform_key
+                );
+            }
+        }
+
         // Handle dry-run mode early to avoid plugin installation
         if ctx.dry_run {
             use crate::ui::progress_report::ProgressIcon;
@@ -896,25 +917,6 @@ pub trait Backend: Debug + Send + Sync {
         } else if self.is_version_installed(&ctx.config, &tv, true) {
             return Ok(tv);
         }
-        // Check for --locked mode: if enabled and no lockfile URL exists, fail early
-        // Exempt tool stubs from lockfile requirements since they are ephemeral
-        // Also exempt backends that don't support URL locking (e.g., Rust uses rustup)
-        if ctx.locked && !tv.request.source().is_tool_stub() && self.supports_lockfile_url() {
-            let platform_key = self.get_platform_key();
-            let has_lockfile_url = tv
-                .lock_platforms
-                .get(&platform_key)
-                .and_then(|p| p.url.as_ref())
-                .is_some();
-            if !has_lockfile_url {
-                bail!(
-                    "No lockfile URL found for {} on platform {} (--locked mode)\n\
-                    hint: Run `mise lock` to generate lockfile URLs, or disable locked mode",
-                    tv.style(),
-                    platform_key
-                );
-            }
-        }
 
         // Track the installation asynchronously (fire-and-forget)
         // Do this before install so the request has time to complete during installation