diff --git a/structkit/template_renderer.py b/structkit/template_renderer.py
index 9e151f7..70a4837 100644
--- a/structkit/template_renderer.py
+++ b/structkit/template_renderer.py
@@ -246,7 +246,9 @@ def _coerce_and_validate(self, name, value, conf):
       if pattern and isinstance(coerced, str):
         import re as _re
         if _re.fullmatch(pattern, coerced) is None:
-          raise ValueError(f"Variable '{name}' does not match required pattern: {pattern}")
+          raise TemplateVariableError(
+              f"Variable '{name}' does not match required pattern '{pattern}': got '{coerced}'"
+          )
 
       # Min/Max validation
       def _as_num(x):
@@ -259,11 +261,15 @@ def _as_num(x):
       if minv is not None:
         cv = _as_num(coerced)
         if cv is not None and cv < float(minv):
-          raise ValueError(f"Variable '{name}' must be >= {minv}, got {coerced}")
+          raise TemplateVariableError(
+              f"Variable '{name}' must be >= {minv}, got {coerced}"
+          )
       if maxv is not None:
         cv = _as_num(coerced)
         if cv is not None and cv > float(maxv):
-          raise ValueError(f"Variable '{name}' must be <= {maxv}, got {coerced}")
+          raise TemplateVariableError(
+              f"Variable '{name}' must be <= {maxv}, got {coerced}"
+          )
 
       return coerced
 
diff --git a/tests/test_commands_more.py b/tests/test_commands_more.py
index f1c3f7a..1025499 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands_more.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands_more.py
@@ -482,3 +482,53 @@ def test_generate_unreadable_input_store_exits_cleanly(parser, tmp_path, caplog)
 
     assert excinfo.value.code == 1
     assert 'Traceback' not in caplog.text
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Template variable validation normalization (issue 167)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("var_value,constraint,expected_fragment", [
+    ("Invalid Slug!", {"type": "string", "pattern": "^[a-z0-9-]+$"}, "does not match"),
+    (0,              {"type": "integer", "min": 1},                    ">= 1"),
+    (99,             {"type": "integer", "max": 10},                   "<= 10"),
+])
+def test_generate_validation_error_exits_cleanly(parser, tmp_path, caplog, var_value, constraint, expected_fragment):
+    """Regex/min/max violations exit 1 with a clean message and no Traceback."""
+    command = GenerateCommand(parser)
+    out_dir = tmp_path / 'out'
+    out_dir.mkdir()
+
+    config = {
+        'variables': [{'val': constraint}],
+        'files': [{'out.txt': {'content': '{{@ val @}}'}}],
+        'folders': [],
+    }
+
+    store_dir = tmp_path / 'store'
+    store_dir.mkdir()
+    (store_dir / 'input.json').write_text('{}')
+
+    with patch.object(command, '_load_yaml_config', return_value=config):
+        args = argparse.Namespace(
+            structure_definition='dummy',
+            base_path=str(out_dir),
+            structures_path=None,
+            dry_run=False,
+            diff=False,
+            output='file',
+            vars=f'val={var_value}',
+            backup=None,
+            file_strategy='overwrite',
+            global_system_prompt=None,
+            input_store=str(store_dir / 'input.json'),
+            non_interactive=True,
+            mappings_file=None,
+            source=None,
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+            command.execute(args)
+
+    assert excinfo.value.code == 1
+    assert expected_fragment in caplog.text
+    assert 'Traceback' not in caplog.text
diff --git a/tests/test_template_renderer.py b/tests/test_template_renderer.py
index 5bbf25a..a617c2b 100644
--- a/tests/test_template_renderer.py
+++ b/tests/test_template_renderer.py
@@ -246,3 +246,61 @@ def test_enum_invalid_value_has_clean_error(tmp_path):
         renderer.prompt_for_missing_vars("{{@ environment @}}", {"environment": "qa"})
 
     assert str(excinfo.value) == "Variable 'environment' must be one of: dev, staging, prod. Got: qa."
+
+
+def test_regex_violation_raises_template_variable_error(tmp_path):
+    """Regex pattern mismatch raises TemplateVariableError, not plain ValueError."""
+    config_variables = [
+        {"slug": {"type": "string", "pattern": "^[a-z0-9-]+$"}}
+    ]
+    renderer = TemplateRenderer(
+        config_variables,
+        str(tmp_path / "input.json"),
+        non_interactive=True,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(TemplateVariableError) as excinfo:
+        renderer.prompt_for_missing_vars("{{@ slug @}}", {"slug": "Invalid Slug!"})
+
+    msg = str(excinfo.value)
+    assert "slug" in msg
+    assert "^[a-z0-9-]+$" in msg
+    assert "Invalid Slug!" in msg
+
+
+def test_min_violation_raises_template_variable_error(tmp_path):
+    """Value below min raises TemplateVariableError, not plain ValueError."""
+    config_variables = [
+        {"retries": {"type": "integer", "min": 1, "max": 10}}
+    ]
+    renderer = TemplateRenderer(
+        config_variables,
+        str(tmp_path / "input.json"),
+        non_interactive=True,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(TemplateVariableError) as excinfo:
+        renderer.prompt_for_missing_vars("{{@ retries @}}", {"retries": 0})
+
+    msg = str(excinfo.value)
+    assert "retries" in msg
+    assert ">= 1" in msg
+
+
+def test_max_violation_raises_template_variable_error(tmp_path):
+    """Value above max raises TemplateVariableError, not plain ValueError."""
+    config_variables = [
+        {"retries": {"type": "integer", "min": 1, "max": 10}}
+    ]
+    renderer = TemplateRenderer(
+        config_variables,
+        str(tmp_path / "input.json"),
+        non_interactive=True,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(TemplateVariableError) as excinfo:
+        renderer.prompt_for_missing_vars("{{@ retries @}}", {"retries": 99})
+
+    msg = str(excinfo.value)
+    assert "retries" in msg
+    assert "<= 10" in msg