diff --git a/src/specify_cli/extensions.py b/src/specify_cli/extensions.py
index 6d7b7c1199..da1a5f4472 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/extensions.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/extensions.py
@@ -523,10 +523,11 @@ def _collect_manifest_command_names(manifest: ExtensionManifest) -> Dict[str, st
         """Collect command and alias names declared by a manifest.
 
         Performs install-time validation for extension-specific constraints:
-        - commands and aliases must use the canonical `speckit.{extension}.{command}` shape
-        - commands and aliases must use this extension's namespace
+        - primary commands must use the canonical `speckit.{extension}.{command}` shape
+        - primary commands must use this extension's namespace
         - command namespaces must not shadow core commands
         - duplicate command/alias names inside one manifest are rejected
+        - aliases are validated for type and uniqueness only (no pattern enforcement)
 
         Args:
             manifest: Parsed extension manifest
@@ -563,23 +564,26 @@ def _collect_manifest_command_names(manifest: ExtensionManifest) -> Dict[str, st
                         f"{kind.capitalize()} for command '{primary_name}' must be a string"
                     )
 
-                match = EXTENSION_COMMAND_NAME_PATTERN.match(name)
-                if match is None:
-                    raise ValidationError(
-                        f"Invalid {kind} '{name}': "
-                        "must follow pattern 'speckit.{extension}.{command}'"
-                    )
+                # Enforce canonical pattern only for primary command names;
+                # aliases are free-form to preserve community extension compat.
+                if kind == "command":
+                    match = EXTENSION_COMMAND_NAME_PATTERN.match(name)
+                    if match is None:
+                        raise ValidationError(
+                            f"Invalid {kind} '{name}': "
+                            "must follow pattern 'speckit.{extension}.{command}'"
+                        )
 
-                namespace = match.group(1)
-                if namespace != manifest.id:
-                    raise ValidationError(
-                        f"{kind.capitalize()} '{name}' must use extension namespace '{manifest.id}'"
-                    )
+                    namespace = match.group(1)
+                    if namespace != manifest.id:
+                        raise ValidationError(
+                            f"{kind.capitalize()} '{name}' must use extension namespace '{manifest.id}'"
+                        )
 
-                if namespace in CORE_COMMAND_NAMES:
-                    raise ValidationError(
-                        f"{kind.capitalize()} '{name}' conflicts with core command namespace '{namespace}'"
-                    )
+                    if namespace in CORE_COMMAND_NAMES:
+                        raise ValidationError(
+                            f"{kind.capitalize()} '{name}' conflicts with core command namespace '{namespace}'"
+                        )
 
                 if name in declared_names:
                     raise ValidationError(
diff --git a/tests/test_extensions.py b/tests/test_extensions.py
index 9d4df6a9a1..c5aed03dcf 100644
--- a/tests/test_extensions.py
+++ b/tests/test_extensions.py
@@ -686,8 +686,8 @@ def test_install_rejects_extension_id_in_core_namespace(self, temp_dir, project_
         with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="conflicts with core command namespace"):
             manager.install_from_directory(ext_dir, "0.1.0", register_commands=False)
 
-    def test_install_rejects_alias_without_extension_namespace(self, temp_dir, project_dir):
-        """Install should reject legacy short aliases that can shadow core commands."""
+    def test_install_accepts_short_alias(self, temp_dir, project_dir):
+        """Install should accept legacy short aliases for community extension compat."""
         import yaml
 
         ext_dir = temp_dir / "alias-shortcut"
@@ -718,8 +718,8 @@ def test_install_rejects_alias_without_extension_namespace(self, temp_dir, proje
         (ext_dir / "commands" / "cmd.md").write_text("---\ndescription: Test\n---\n\nBody")
 
         manager = ExtensionManager(project_dir)
-        with pytest.raises(ValidationError, match="Invalid alias 'speckit.shortcut'"):
-            manager.install_from_directory(ext_dir, "0.1.0", register_commands=False)
+        # Should not raise — short aliases are allowed
+        manager.install_from_directory(ext_dir, "0.1.0", register_commands=False)
 
     def test_install_rejects_namespace_squatting(self, temp_dir, project_dir):
         """Install should reject commands and aliases outside the extension namespace."""