diff --git a/.changelog/11165.txt b/.changelog/11165.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6db3f0d0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/11165.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+jobspec: ensure consistent error handling between var-file & cli vars
+```