diff --git a/docs/authentication/overview.mdx b/docs/authentication/overview.mdx
index a5997a4a4..5122c3a2d 100644
--- a/docs/authentication/overview.mdx
+++ b/docs/authentication/overview.mdx
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Simple example collection:
 import { CollectionConfig } from 'payload/types';
 
 const Admins: CollectionConfig = {
-  slug:
+  slug: 'admins',
   // highlight-start
   auth: {
     tokenExpiration: 7200, // How many seconds to keep the user logged in
diff --git a/docs/configuration/collections.mdx b/docs/configuration/collections.mdx
index 3553e1af4..1867fbff4 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/collections.mdx
+++ b/docs/configuration/collections.mdx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ It's often best practice to write your Collections in separate files and then im
 
 | Option           | Description  |
 | ---------------- | -------------|
-| **`slug`** *     | Unique, URL-friendly string that will act as an identifier for this Collection. |
+| **`slug`** *     | Unique, URL-friendly string that will act as an identifier for this Collection. Must be kebab-case. |
 | **`fields`** *   | Array of field types that will determine the structure and functionality of the data stored within this Collection. [Click here](/docs/fields/overview) for a full list of field types as well as how to configure them. |
 | **`labels`**     | Singular and plural labels for use in identifying this Collection throughout Payload. Auto-generated from slug if not defined. |
 | **`admin`**      | Admin-specific configuration. See below for [more detail](#admin-options). |
diff --git a/docs/configuration/globals.mdx b/docs/configuration/globals.mdx
index 6bd5b9487..a1ad179fd 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/globals.mdx
+++ b/docs/configuration/globals.mdx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ As with Collection configs, it's often best practice to write your Globals in se
 
 | Option           | Description  |
 | ---------------- | -------------|
-| **`slug`** *     | Unique, URL-friendly string that will act as an identifier for this Global. |
+| **`slug`** *     | Unique, URL-friendly string that will act as an identifier for this Global. Must be kebab-case. |
 | **`fields`** *   | Array of field types that will determine the structure and functionality of the data stored within this Global. [Click here](/docs/fields/overview) for a full list of field types as well as how to configure them. |
 | **`label`**      | Singular label for use in identifying this Global throughout Payload. Auto-generated from slug if not defined. |
 | **`description`**| Text or React component to display below the Global header to give editors more information.  |
diff --git a/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx b/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx
index c6aa962bc..279d627f2 100644
--- a/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx
+++ b/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ Globals cannot be created or deleted, so there are only two REST endpoints opene
 
 | Method   | Path                        | Description             |
 | -------- | --------------------------- | ----------------------- |
-| `GET`    | `/api/globals/{globalSlug}` | Get a global by slug    |
-| `POST`   | `/api/globals/{globalSlug}` | Update a global by slug |
+| `GET`    | `/api/globals/{global-slug}` | Get a global by slug    |
+| `POST`   | `/api/globals/{global-slug}` | Update a global by slug |
 
 ## Preferences
 
diff --git a/docs/versions/overview.mdx b/docs/versions/overview.mdx
index 13872c0ec..1b28916e7 100644
--- a/docs/versions/overview.mdx
+++ b/docs/versions/overview.mdx
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ Versions expose new operations for both collections and globals. They allow you
 
 | Method   | Path                                 | Description                            |
 | -------- | ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- |
-| `GET`    | `/api/{collectionSlug}/versions`     | Find and query paginated versions      |
-| `GET`    | `/api/{collectionSlug}/versions/:id` | Find a specific version by ID          |
-| `POST`   | `/api/{collectionSlug}/versions/:id` | Restore a version by ID                |
+| `GET`    | `/api/{collection-slug}/versions`     | Find and query paginated versions      |
+| `GET`    | `/api/{collection-slug}/versions/:id` | Find a specific version by ID          |
+| `POST`   | `/api/{collection-slug}/versions/:id` | Restore a version by ID                |
 
 **Collection GraphQL queries:**
 
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ const result = await payload.restoreVersion({
 
 | Method   | Path                                     | Description                            |
 | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
-| `GET`    | `/api/globals/{globalSlug}/versions`     | Find and query paginated versions      |
-| `GET`    | `/api/globals/{globalSlug}/versions/:id` | Find a specific version by ID          |
-| `POST`   | `/api/globals/{globalSlug}/versions/:id` | Restore a version by ID                |
+| `GET`    | `/api/globals/{global-slug}/versions`     | Find and query paginated versions      |
+| `GET`    | `/api/globals/{global-slug}/versions/:id` | Find a specific version by ID          |
+| `POST`   | `/api/globals/{global-slug}/versions/:id` | Restore a version by ID                |
 
 **Global GraphQL queries:**
 
diff --git a/src/collections/config/sanitize.ts b/src/collections/config/sanitize.ts
index 4fed5c906..1817918df 100644
--- a/src/collections/config/sanitize.ts
+++ b/src/collections/config/sanitize.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { versionCollectionDefaults } from '../../versions/defaults';
 import baseVersionFields from '../../versions/baseFields';
 import TimestampsRequired from '../../errors/TimestampsRequired';
 import mergeBaseFields from '../../fields/mergeBaseFields';
+import Logger from '../../utilities/logger';
 
 const sanitizeCollection = (config: Config, collection: CollectionConfig): SanitizedCollectionConfig => {
   // /////////////////////////////////
@@ -25,6 +26,15 @@ const sanitizeCollection = (config: Config, collection: CollectionConfig): Sanit
     isMergeableObject: isPlainObject,
   });
 
+  const logger = Logger();
+
+  // Pre-validate slug to enforce kebab-case
+  if (!sanitized.slug.match(new RegExp('^([a-z][a-z0-9]*)(-[a-z0-9]+)*$'))) {
+    logger.error(`Collection slug "${sanitized.slug}" should be kebab-case.`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  // Normalize slug and labels to kebab-case
   sanitized.slug = toKebabCase(sanitized.slug);
   sanitized.labels = sanitized.labels || formatLabels(sanitized.slug);
 
diff --git a/src/collections/config/types.ts b/src/collections/config/types.ts
index 3341c996d..97c7cc2e0 100644
--- a/src/collections/config/types.ts
+++ b/src/collections/config/types.ts
@@ -204,6 +204,9 @@ export type CollectionAdminOptions = {
 }
 
 export type CollectionConfig = {
+  /**
+   * Name of the collection in kebab-case
+   */
   slug: string;
   /**
    * Label configuration
diff --git a/src/globals/config/sanitize.ts b/src/globals/config/sanitize.ts
index bd70787a5..997d9acf9 100644
--- a/src/globals/config/sanitize.ts
+++ b/src/globals/config/sanitize.ts
@@ -7,11 +7,20 @@ import defaultAccess from '../../auth/defaultAccess';
 import baseVersionFields from '../../versions/baseFields';
 import mergeBaseFields from '../../fields/mergeBaseFields';
 import { versionGlobalDefaults } from '../../versions/defaults';
+import Logger from '../../utilities/logger';
 
 const sanitizeGlobals = (collections: CollectionConfig[], globals: GlobalConfig[]): SanitizedGlobalConfig[] => {
   const sanitizedGlobals = globals.map((global) => {
     const sanitizedGlobal = { ...global };
 
+    const logger = Logger();
+
+    // Pre-validate slug to enforce kebab-case
+    if (!sanitizedGlobal.slug.match(new RegExp('^([a-z][a-z0-9]*)(-[a-z0-9]+)*$'))) {
+      logger.error(`Global slug "${sanitizedGlobal.slug}" should be kebab-case.`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
     sanitizedGlobal.label = sanitizedGlobal.label || toWords(sanitizedGlobal.slug);
 
     // /////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/globals/config/types.ts b/src/globals/config/types.ts
index 14a14a055..d4a26c467 100644
--- a/src/globals/config/types.ts
+++ b/src/globals/config/types.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ export interface GlobalModel extends Model<Document> {
 }
 
 export type GlobalConfig = {
+  /**
+   * Name of the global in kebab-case
+   */
   slug: string
   label?: string
   preview?: GeneratePreviewURL