diff --git a/expressions/src/features.ts b/expressions/src/features.ts
index b0a07709..4bc90b36 100644
--- a/expressions/src/features.ts
+++ b/expressions/src/features.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ export interface ExperimentalFeatures {
    * @default false
    */
   blockScalarChompingWarning?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * Enable improved container image validation that handles
+   * expressions gracefully and validates empty/docker:// images.
+   * @default false
+   */
+  containerImageValidation?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -39,7 +46,11 @@ export type ExperimentalFeatureKey = Exclude<keyof ExperimentalFeatures, "all">;
  * All known experimental feature keys.
  * This list must be kept in sync with the ExperimentalFeatures interface.
  */
-const allFeatureKeys: ExperimentalFeatureKey[] = ["missingInputsQuickfix", "blockScalarChompingWarning"];
+const allFeatureKeys: ExperimentalFeatureKey[] = [
+  "missingInputsQuickfix",
+  "blockScalarChompingWarning",
+  "containerImageValidation"
+];
 
 export class FeatureFlags {
   private readonly features: ExperimentalFeatures;
diff --git a/workflow-parser/src/model/convert.ts b/workflow-parser/src/model/convert.ts
index afc14d45..7dbc946d 100644
--- a/workflow-parser/src/model/convert.ts
+++ b/workflow-parser/src/model/convert.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import {FeatureFlags} from "@actions/expressions";
 import {TemplateContext} from "../templates/template-context.js";
 import {TemplateToken, TemplateTokenError} from "../templates/tokens/template-token.js";
 import {FileProvider} from "../workflows/file-provider.js";
@@ -37,9 +38,15 @@ export type WorkflowTemplateConverterOptions = {
    * By default, conversion will be skipped if there are errors in the {@link TemplateContext}.
    */
   errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
+
+  /**
+   * Feature flags for experimental features.
+   * When not provided, all experimental features are disabled.
+   */
+  featureFlags?: FeatureFlags;
 };
 
-const defaultOptions: Required<WorkflowTemplateConverterOptions> = {
+const defaultOptions: Omit<Required<WorkflowTemplateConverterOptions>, "featureFlags"> = {
   maxReusableWorkflowDepth: 4,
   fetchReusableWorkflowDepth: 0,
   errorPolicy: ErrorPolicy.ReturnErrorsOnly
@@ -54,6 +61,11 @@ export async function convertWorkflowTemplate(
   const result = {} as WorkflowTemplate;
   const opts = getOptionsWithDefaults(options);
 
+  // Store feature flags in context for converter functions
+  if (options.featureFlags) {
+    context.state["featureFlags"] = options.featureFlags;
+  }
+
   if (context.errors.getErrors().length > 0 && opts.errorPolicy === ErrorPolicy.ReturnErrorsOnly) {
     result.errors = context.errors.getErrors().map(x => ({
       Message: x.message
@@ -132,7 +144,9 @@ export async function convertWorkflowTemplate(
   return result;
 }
 
-function getOptionsWithDefaults(options: WorkflowTemplateConverterOptions): Required<WorkflowTemplateConverterOptions> {
+function getOptionsWithDefaults(
+  options: WorkflowTemplateConverterOptions
+): Omit<Required<WorkflowTemplateConverterOptions>, "featureFlags"> {
   return {
     maxReusableWorkflowDepth:
       options.maxReusableWorkflowDepth !== undefined
diff --git a/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/container.test.ts b/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/container.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..47c435a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/container.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,318 @@
+/* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/no-non-null-assertion */
+import {nullTrace} from "../../test-utils/null-trace.js";
+import {parseWorkflow} from "../../workflows/workflow-parser.js";
+import {convertWorkflowTemplate, ErrorPolicy} from "../convert.js";
+
+// Minimal FeatureFlags-compatible object for tests
+const featureFlags = {isEnabled: (f: string) => f === "containerImageValidation"};
+
+async function getErrors(content: string): Promise<string[]> {
+  const result = parseWorkflow({name: "wf.yaml", content}, nullTrace);
+  result.context.state["featureFlags"] = featureFlags;
+  const template = await convertWorkflowTemplate(result.context, result.value!, undefined, {
+    errorPolicy: ErrorPolicy.TryConversion
+  });
+  return (template.errors ?? []).map((e: {Message: string}) => e.Message);
+}
+
+function expectNoContainerErrors(errors: string[]): void {
+  const containerErrors = errors.filter(e => e.includes("Container image"));
+  expect(containerErrors).toHaveLength(0);
+}
+
+function expectContainerError(errors: string[], count = 1): void {
+  const containerErrors = errors.filter(e => e.includes("Container image cannot be empty"));
+  expect(containerErrors).toHaveLength(count);
+}
+
+describe("container image validation", () => {
+  describe("shorthand form", () => {
+    it("container: '' is silent for job container", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container: ''
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container: docker:// errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container: docker://
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container: valid-image passes", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container: ubuntu:16.04
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("mapping form", () => {
+    it("container image: '' errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container:
+      image: ''
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container image: docker:// errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container:
+      image: docker://
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container: {} (empty object, missing image) errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container: {}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container image: null errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container:
+      image:
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("empty image with expression in other field still errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container:
+      image: ''
+      options: \${{ matrix.opts }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("services shorthand", () => {
+    it("services svc: '' errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      svc: ''
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services svc: docker:// errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      svc: docker://
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("services mapping", () => {
+    it("services svc image: '' errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      svc:
+        image: ''
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services svc image: docker:// errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      svc:
+        image: docker://
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services svc: {} (empty object) errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      svc: {}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("empty image with expression sibling service still errors", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      svc1:
+        image: ''
+      svc2: \${{ matrix.svc }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectContainerError(errors);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("expression safety", () => {
+    it("container: expression skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container: \${{ matrix.container }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container image: expression skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container:
+      image: \${{ matrix.image }}
+      options: --privileged
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container with expression key skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container:
+      \${{ vars.KEY }}: ubuntu
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services: expression skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services: \${{ fromJSON(inputs.services) }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services with expression alias key skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      \${{ matrix.alias }}: postgres
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services container with expression key skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      db:
+        \${{ vars.KEY }}: postgres
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("container with all expression fields skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    container:
+      image: \${{ matrix.image }}
+      options: \${{ matrix.options }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services svc: expression skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      db: \${{ matrix.db }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+
+    it("services image: expression skips validation", async () => {
+      const errors = await getErrors(`on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: linux
+    services:
+      db:
+        image: \${{ matrix.db_image }}
+        options: --health-cmd pg_isready
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`);
+      expectNoContainerErrors(errors);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/container.ts b/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/container.ts
index 4c4bf79e..0a1895d7 100644
--- a/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/container.ts
+++ b/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/container.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,199 @@
+import {FeatureFlags} from "@actions/expressions";
 import {TemplateContext} from "../../templates/template-context.js";
 import {MappingToken, SequenceToken, StringToken, TemplateToken} from "../../templates/tokens/index.js";
 import {isString} from "../../templates/tokens/type-guards.js";
 import {Container, Credential} from "../workflow-template.js";
 
-export function convertToJobContainer(context: TemplateContext, container: TemplateToken): Container | undefined {
+function getFeatureFlags(context: TemplateContext): FeatureFlags | undefined {
+  return context.state["featureFlags"] as FeatureFlags | undefined;
+}
+
+const DOCKER_URI_PREFIX = "docker://";
+
+function isEmptyImage(value: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = value.startsWith(DOCKER_URI_PREFIX) ? value.substring(DOCKER_URI_PREFIX.length) : value;
+  return trimmed.length === 0;
+}
+
+export function convertToJobContainer(
+  context: TemplateContext,
+  container: TemplateToken,
+  isServiceContainer = false
+): Container | undefined {
+  // Feature flag guard — use legacy implementation when flag is off
+  if (!getFeatureFlags(context)?.isEnabled("containerImageValidation")) {
+    return convertToJobContainerLegacy(context, container);
+  }
+
+  if (container.isExpression) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Shorthand form
+  if (isString(container)) {
+    const image = container.assertString("container item");
+    if (!image || image.value.length === 0) {
+      if (isServiceContainer) {
+        context.error(container, "Container image cannot be empty");
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (isEmptyImage(image.value)) {
+      context.error(container, "Container image cannot be empty");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    return {image};
+  }
+
+  // Mapping form
+  const mapping = container.assertMapping("container item");
+  if (!mapping) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let image: StringToken | undefined;
+  let env: MappingToken | undefined;
+  let ports: SequenceToken | undefined;
+  let volumes: SequenceToken | undefined;
+  let options: StringToken | undefined;
+  let credentials: Credential | undefined;
+  let hasExpressionKey = false;
+  let hasExpression = false;
+
+  for (const item of mapping) {
+    if (item.key.isExpression) {
+      hasExpressionKey = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const key = item.key.assertString("container item key");
+
+    switch (key.value) {
+      case "image":
+        if (item.value.isExpression) {
+          hasExpression = true;
+          break;
+        }
+        image = item.value.assertString("container image");
+        break;
+      case "credentials":
+        if (!item.value.isExpression) {
+          credentials = convertCredentials(context, item.value);
+        }
+        break;
+      case "env":
+        if (!item.value.isExpression) {
+          env = item.value.assertMapping("container env");
+        }
+        break;
+      case "ports":
+        if (!item.value.isExpression) {
+          ports = item.value.assertSequence("container ports");
+        }
+        break;
+      case "volumes":
+        if (!item.value.isExpression) {
+          volumes = item.value.assertSequence("container volumes");
+        }
+        break;
+      case "options":
+        if (!item.value.isExpression) {
+          options = item.value.assertString("container options");
+        }
+        break;
+      default:
+        context.error(key, `Unexpected container item key: ${key.value}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Validate image
+  if (image) {
+    if (isEmptyImage(image.value)) {
+      context.error(image, "Container image cannot be empty");
+      return;
+    }
+    return {image, credentials, env, ports, volumes, options};
+  }
+
+  // No image key — skip error if expression keys could provide one
+  if (!hasExpressionKey && !hasExpression) {
+    context.error(container, "Container image cannot be empty");
+  }
+}
+
+export function convertToJobServices(context: TemplateContext, services: TemplateToken): Container[] | undefined {
+  // Feature flag guard — use legacy implementation when flag is off
+  if (!getFeatureFlags(context)?.isEnabled("containerImageValidation")) {
+    return convertToJobServicesLegacy(context, services);
+  }
+
+  if (services.isExpression) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const serviceList: Container[] = [];
+  const mapping = services.assertMapping("services");
+
+  for (const service of mapping) {
+    if (service.key.isExpression) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    service.key.assertString("service key");
+    const container = convertToJobContainer(context, service.value, true);
+    if (container) {
+      serviceList.push(container);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return serviceList;
+}
+
+function convertCredentials(context: TemplateContext, value: TemplateToken): Credential | undefined {
+  const mapping = value.assertMapping("credentials");
+  if (!mapping) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let username: StringToken | undefined;
+  let password: StringToken | undefined;
+
+  for (const item of mapping) {
+    if (item.key.isExpression) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const key = item.key.assertString("credentials item");
+    if (item.value.isExpression) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    switch (key.value) {
+      case "username":
+        username = item.value.assertString("credentials username");
+        break;
+      case "password":
+        password = item.value.assertString("credentials password");
+        break;
+      default:
+        context.error(key, `credentials key ${key.value}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {username, password};
+}
+
+// ===== Legacy implementations (remove when containerImageValidation graduates) =====
+
+function convertToJobContainerLegacy(context: TemplateContext, container: TemplateToken): Container | undefined {
   let image: StringToken | undefined;
   let env: MappingToken | undefined;
   let ports: SequenceToken | undefined;
   let volumes: SequenceToken | undefined;
   let options: StringToken | undefined;
 
-  // Skip validation for expressions for now to match
-  // behavior of the other parsers
   for (const [, token] of TemplateToken.traverse(container)) {
     if (token.isExpression) {
       return;
@@ -19,7 +201,6 @@ export function convertToJobContainer(context: TemplateContext, container: Templ
   }
 
   if (isString(container)) {
-    // Workflow uses shorthand syntax `container: image-name`
     image = container.assertString("container item");
     return {image: image};
   }
@@ -35,7 +216,7 @@ export function convertToJobContainer(context: TemplateContext, container: Templ
           image = value.assertString("container image");
           break;
         case "credentials":
-          convertToJobCredentials(context, value);
+          convertToJobCredentialsLegacy(context, value);
           break;
         case "env":
           env = value.assertMapping("container env");
@@ -70,13 +251,13 @@ export function convertToJobContainer(context: TemplateContext, container: Templ
   }
 }
 
-export function convertToJobServices(context: TemplateContext, services: TemplateToken): Container[] | undefined {
+function convertToJobServicesLegacy(context: TemplateContext, services: TemplateToken): Container[] | undefined {
   const serviceList: Container[] = [];
 
   const mapping = services.assertMapping("services");
   for (const service of mapping) {
     service.key.assertString("service key");
-    const container = convertToJobContainer(context, service.value);
+    const container = convertToJobContainerLegacy(context, service.value);
     if (container) {
       serviceList.push(container);
     }
@@ -84,7 +265,7 @@ export function convertToJobServices(context: TemplateContext, services: Templat
   return serviceList;
 }
 
-function convertToJobCredentials(context: TemplateContext, value: TemplateToken): Credential | undefined {
+function convertToJobCredentialsLegacy(context: TemplateContext, value: TemplateToken): Credential | undefined {
   const mapping = value.assertMapping("credentials");
 
   let username: StringToken | undefined;
diff --git a/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/job.ts b/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/job.ts
index 514de15a..dda4a634 100644
--- a/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/job.ts
+++ b/workflow-parser/src/model/converter/job.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export function convertJob(context: TemplateContext, jobKey: StringToken, token:
         break;
 
       case "container":
-        convertToJobContainer(context, item.value);
+        handleTemplateTokenErrors(item.value, context, undefined, () => convertToJobContainer(context, item.value));
         container = item.value;
         break;
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export function convertJob(context: TemplateContext, jobKey: StringToken, token:
         break;
 
       case "services":
-        convertToJobServices(context, item.value);
+        handleTemplateTokenErrors(item.value, context, undefined, () => convertToJobServices(context, item.value));
         services = item.value;
         break;
 
diff --git a/workflow-parser/src/workflow-v1.0.json b/workflow-parser/src/workflow-v1.0.json
index 07a6d6dd..6d21be4f 100644
--- a/workflow-parser/src/workflow-v1.0.json
+++ b/workflow-parser/src/workflow-v1.0.json
@@ -2345,7 +2345,7 @@
       "mapping": {
         "properties": {
           "image": {
-            "type": "non-empty-string",
+            "type": "string",
             "description": "Use `jobs.<job_id>.container.image` to define the Docker image to use as the container to run the action. The value can be the Docker Hub image or a registry name."
           },
           "options": {
@@ -2390,7 +2390,7 @@
         "matrix"
       ],
       "one-of": [
-        "non-empty-string",
+        "string",
         "container-mapping"
       ]
     },
diff --git a/workflow-parser/testdata/skipped-tests.txt b/workflow-parser/testdata/skipped-tests.txt
index 9f0ac875..44f4fae2 100644
--- a/workflow-parser/testdata/skipped-tests.txt
+++ b/workflow-parser/testdata/skipped-tests.txt
@@ -91,3 +91,4 @@ yaml-schema-sequence.yml
 yaml-schema-str-flow-styles.yml
 yaml-schema-string.yml
 yaml-schema-timestamp.yml
+job-container-invalid.yml