diff --git a/.golangci-kal.yml b/.golangci-kal.yml
index b925f2a960e9..3aa0b412e2a9 100644
--- a/.golangci-kal.yml
+++ b/.golangci-kal.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ linters-settings:
           enable:
           - "conditions" # Ensure conditions have the correct json tags and markers.
           - "integers" # Ensure only int32 and int64 are used for integers.
+          - "jsontags" # Ensure every field has a json tag.
           - "maxlength" # Ensure all strings and arrays have maximum lengths/maximum items.
           - "nobools" # Bools do not evolve over time, should use enums instead.
           - "nofloats" # Ensure floats are not used.
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ linters-settings:
           
           # Linters below this line are disabled, pending conversation on how and when to enable them.
           # - "commentstart" # Ensure comments start with the serialized version of the field name.
-          # - "jsontags" # Ensure every field has a json tag.
           # - "optionalorrequired" # Every field should be marked as `+optional` or `+required`.
           disable:
           - "*" # We will manually enable new linters after understanding the impact. Disable all by default.
@@ -82,3 +82,8 @@ issues:
     text: "nobools"
     linters:
       - kal
+  # We follow the current CustomResourceDefinition field's json tag pattern.
+  - path: "api/v1beta1/*"
+    text: "field (XPreserveUnknownFields|XPreserveUnknownFields|XValidations|XMetadata|XIntOrString) json tag does not match pattern"
+    linters:
+      - kal
diff --git a/hack/tools/.custom-gcl.yaml b/hack/tools/.custom-gcl.yaml
index 74b654e21cca..a1ec6984487b 100644
--- a/hack/tools/.custom-gcl.yaml
+++ b/hack/tools/.custom-gcl.yaml
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ name: golangci-lint-kal-v1.63.4
 destination: ./bin
 plugins:
 - module: 'github.com/JoelSpeed/kal'
-  version: v0.0.0-20250208110507-b94e5ede1177
+  version: v0.0.0-20250304142607-36e90ff72198