diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 674411a76..b632fd4bd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   
 ### Fixed
 
+- Positional `apm install <url>` now exits non-zero when all packages fail
+  validation, matching manifest installs for reliable CI scripting. (#2131)
 - Fresh checkouts with declared consumer targets no longer remain
   `apm audit --ci`-red for files those targets cannot restore: `apm install`
   now removes stale `deployed_files` entries outside the legitimate target
diff --git a/src/apm_cli/commands/install.py b/src/apm_cli/commands/install.py
index 503a38a08..6e5a43384 100644
--- a/src/apm_cli/commands/install.py
+++ b/src/apm_cli/commands/install.py
@@ -1530,7 +1530,8 @@ def install(  # noqa: PLR0913
             )
             # Short-circuit: all packages failed validation -- nothing to install
             if outcome.all_failed:
-                return
+                summary_rendered = True
+                sys.exit(1)
             # Note: Empty validated_packages is OK if packages are already in apm.yml;
             # only_packages is derived from validation outcomes below.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_wave7_marketplace_install_coverage.py b/tests/integration/test_wave7_marketplace_install_coverage.py
index d8ec7718b..dc3bb000e 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_wave7_marketplace_install_coverage.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_wave7_marketplace_install_coverage.py
@@ -1056,8 +1056,8 @@ def test_install_package_validation_failure(self, runner: CliRunner, tmp_path: P
                 ),
             ):
                 result = runner.invoke(cli, ["install", "owner/nonexistent"])
-        # All validations failed → exit
-        assert result.exit_code != 0 or "not accessible" in result.output
+        # All validations failed, so the command must report failure.
+        assert result.exit_code == 1
 
 
 # ===========================================================================
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_install_command.py b/tests/unit/test_install_command.py
index 825b61aa0..d4f42aa94 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_install_command.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_install_command.py
@@ -337,6 +337,17 @@ def test_install_auto_created_apm_yml_has_correct_metadata(
                 assert "description" in config
                 assert "APM project" in config["description"]
 
+    @patch("apm_cli.commands.install._validate_package_exists", return_value=False)
+    def test_install_positional_url_total_validation_failure_exits_one(self, mock_validate):
+        """A positional URL that cannot be validated must fail the command."""
+        with self._chdir_tmp():
+            result = self.runner.invoke(cli, ["install", "https://127.0.0.1:1/org/repo.git"])
+
+            assert result.exit_code == 1
+            assert "All packages failed validation" in result.output
+            assert "Install interrupted" not in result.output
+            mock_validate.assert_called()
+
     @patch("apm_cli.commands.install._validate_package_exists")
     def test_install_invalid_package_format_with_no_apm_yml(self, mock_validate):
         """Test that invalid package format fails gracefully even with auto-bootstrap."""