diff --git a/simpeg_drivers/utils/tile_estimate.py b/simpeg_drivers/utils/tile_estimate.py
index 18ef5296..d5b6c953 100644
--- a/simpeg_drivers/utils/tile_estimate.py
+++ b/simpeg_drivers/utils/tile_estimate.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 from geoapps_utils.base import Driver, Options
 from geoapps_utils.utils.numerical import fibonacci_series, fit_circle
 from geoh5py.groups import SimPEGGroup, UIJsonGroup
+from pydantic import field_validator
 from scipy.interpolate import interp1d
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
@@ -46,6 +47,17 @@ class TileParameters(Options):
     render_plot: bool = True
     out_group: UIJsonGroup | None = None
 
+    @field_validator("simulation", mode="before")
+    @classmethod
+    def forward_and_inverse_drivers_only(cls, value):
+        """Prevents users from running with incompatible apps."""
+        run_command = value.options.get("run_command", "nope")
+        invalid = ["plate_simulation", "depth_of_investigation"]
+        if any(k in run_command for k in invalid):
+            title = value.options.get("title", "Requested application")
+            raise ValueError(f"{title} is not a valid target for tile estimation.")
+        return value
+
 
 class TileEstimator(Driver):
     """
diff --git a/tests/utils_tile_estimate_test.py b/tests/utils_tile_estimate_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..93a594de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils_tile_estimate_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+#  Copyright (c) 2023-2026 Mira Geoscience Ltd.                                          '
+#                                                                                   '
+#  This file is part of simpeg-drivers package.                                     '
+#                                                                                   '
+#  simpeg-drivers is distributed under the terms and conditions of the MIT License  '
+#  (see LICENSE file at the root of this source code package).                      '
+#                                                                                   '
+# '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+from geoh5py import Workspace
+from geoh5py.groups import SimPEGGroup
+from pydantic import ValidationError
+
+from simpeg_drivers.utils.tile_estimate import TileParameters
+
+
+def test_simulation_validation_rejects_plate_simulation(tmp_path):
+    simulation = MagicMock(spec=SimPEGGroup)
+    simulation.options = {
+        "run_command": "simpeg_drivers.plate_simulation.driver",
+        "title": "Plate Simulation",
+    }
+
+    with Workspace.create(tmp_path / "test.geoh5") as geoh5:
+        with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="not a valid target"):
+            TileParameters(geoh5=geoh5, simulation=simulation)