diff --git a/plugins/action/validate_inputs.py b/plugins/action/validate_inputs.py
index 309a512..dccc060 100644
--- a/plugins/action/validate_inputs.py
+++ b/plugins/action/validate_inputs.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ against that sub-option, and a null entry means the entry is not managed. Messag
 and the types involved but never a value, so secrets cannot leak into job output.
 """
 
+import glob
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
@@ -111,7 +112,15 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
         task_vars = task_vars or {}
         validator = _Validator(self._templar)
         declared = {}
-        for path in self._task.args["specs"]:
+        paths = []
+        # A pattern (`.../*/roles/*/meta/argument_specs.yml`) picks up every role's spec without a list
+        # to keep in sync; one that matches nothing is a broken path, not an empty set.
+        for entry in self._task.args["specs"]:
+            matches = sorted(glob.glob(entry)) if glob.has_magic(entry) else [entry]
+            if not matches:
+                raise AnsibleError(f"no spec file matches {entry}")
+            paths.extend(matches)
+        for path in paths:
             options = self._loader.load_from_file(path)["argument_specs"]["inputs"]["options"]
             _check_spec(options, path)
             for name, spec in options.items():
diff --git a/tests/inputs/test_inputs.yml b/tests/inputs/test_inputs.yml
index 1663b34..a8bf821 100644
--- a/tests/inputs/test_inputs.yml
+++ b/tests/inputs/test_inputs.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,41 @@
         loop_var: inf
         label: "{{ inf.name }}"
 
+    - name: Expand a spec pattern
+      validate_inputs:
+        specs:
+          - "{{ playbook_dir }}/fixture_*.yml"
+      vars:
+        fixture:
+          name: web01
+          servers: [10.0.0.1]
+      register: inputs_pattern_result
+
+    - name: Assert the pattern matched the fixture spec
+      ansible.builtin.assert:
+        that:
+          - inputs_pattern_result is succeeded
+        success_msg: "[inputs pattern] OK"
+
+    - name: Refuse a pattern that matches nothing
+      block:
+        - name: Run the validator with a pattern that matches no file
+          validate_inputs:
+            specs:
+              - "{{ playbook_dir }}/nothing_*.yml"
+          register: inputs_nomatch_result
+      rescue:
+        - name: Keep the no-match failure
+          ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+            inputs_nomatch_result: "{{ ansible_failed_result }}"
+
+    - name: Assert the empty pattern was refused
+      ansible.builtin.assert:
+        that:
+          - inputs_nomatch_result.msg is search('no spec file matches')
+        fail_msg: "[inputs no-match] got {{ inputs_nomatch_result.msg | default('') }}"
+        success_msg: "[inputs no-match] OK"
+
     - name: Refuse a variable declared by two specs
       block:
         - name: Run the validator with the fixture spec twice