diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 95def10..06c2d8f 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export type {
   PropChange,
   PropNameConflict,
   PropValues,
+  RefNameConflict,
   RefType,
   Refs,
   Spec,
@@ -33,4 +34,5 @@ export type {
   WebComponentConstructor,
   WebComponentInstance,
   WebComponentMembers,
+  WebComponentStatics,
 } from './types.ts';
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index 58ebde3..435b437 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -176,15 +176,20 @@ export type WebComponentInstance<S> = InstanceType<BaseOf<S>> &
   PropValues<PropsOf<S>> &
   WebComponentMembers<S>;
 
-/** The constructor type {@link WebComponent} returns. */
-export type WebComponentConstructor<S> = Omit<BaseOf<S>, 'prototype'> & {
-  new (): WebComponentInstance<S>;
-  readonly prototype: WebComponentInstance<S>;
+/** The static members {@link WebComponent} adds to the generated class. */
+export interface WebComponentStatics<S> {
   readonly observedAttributes: readonly ObservedAttributes<S>[];
   /** Prop key → attribute name: `El.attributeFor.fetch` is `'disable-fetch'`. */
   readonly attributeFor: AttributeMap<S>;
-  readonly [spec]?: S;
-};
+}
+
+/** The constructor type {@link WebComponent} returns. */
+export type WebComponentConstructor<S> = Omit<BaseOf<S>, 'prototype'> &
+  WebComponentStatics<S> & {
+    new (): WebComponentInstance<S>;
+    readonly prototype: WebComponentInstance<S>;
+    readonly [spec]?: S;
+  };
 
 /** The spec behind a {@link WebComponent} class (or subclass), or `T` itself when it is already a spec. */
 export type SpecOf<T> = T extends abstract new (...args: never) => unknown
@@ -199,30 +204,53 @@ export type AttributesOf<T> = ObservedAttributes<SpecOf<T>>;
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Validation
 
-/** Mixin members a prop may not shadow. */
-type MixinMember = keyof WebComponentMembers<unknown>;
-
 /**
- * Every name a prop may not use. `attributeFor` is static, so it wouldn't
- * collide at runtime; it's reserved so `El.attributeFor` and a prop can't be
- * confused.
+ * Every name a prop may not use: members of the base instance (`title`,
+ * `hidden`, `id` on `HTMLElement`; `value` on a form-ish base), statics of the
+ * base class, and the members and statics the mixin adds. The static names
+ * wouldn't collide at runtime (props live on instances); they're reserved so
+ * `El.attributeFor` / `El.observedAttributes` and a prop can't be confused.
  */
-type ReservedName = MixinMember | 'attributeFor';
+type ReservedName<S> =
+  | keyof InstanceType<BaseOf<S>>
+  | keyof BaseOf<S>
+  | keyof WebComponentMembers<unknown>
+  | keyof WebComponentStatics<unknown>;
 
 /** Branded error type: shows up in the message when a prop name collides. */
 export type PropNameConflict<K extends PropertyKey> =
   `Error: prop "${K & string}" conflicts with an existing element member`;
 
 /**
- * Intersected with the spec parameter. Any prop whose name already exists on
- * the base instance (`title`, `hidden`, `id` on `HTMLElement`; `value` on a
- * form-ish base), on the mixin, or is otherwise reserved, is retyped to {@link PropNameConflict},
- * so the error lands on that key.
+ * Branded error type: shows up in the message when `element` and `elements`
+ * share a key. An object rather than a string literal because the selector is
+ * itself a string literal, and two string literals intersect to `never`, which
+ * would hide the message.
+ */
+export type RefNameConflict<K extends PropertyKey> = {
+  readonly [M in `Error: ref "${K & string}" is in both element and elements`]: never;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Intersected with the spec parameter, so each error lands on the offending
+ * key: a prop with a {@link ReservedName} is retyped to {@link PropNameConflict},
+ * and a key in both `element` and `elements` (both become `refs.<key>`) is
+ * retyped to {@link RefNameConflict} on each side.
  */
 export type ValidateSpec<S> = {
   readonly props?: {
-    readonly [K in keyof PropsOf<S>]: K extends keyof InstanceType<BaseOf<S>> | ReservedName
+    readonly [K in keyof PropsOf<S>]: K extends ReservedName<S>
       ? PropNameConflict<K>
       : PropsOf<S>[K];
   };
+  readonly element?: {
+    readonly [K in keyof ElementRefsOf<S>]: K extends keyof ElementsRefsOf<S>
+      ? RefNameConflict<K>
+      : ElementRefsOf<S>[K];
+  };
+  readonly elements?: {
+    readonly [K in keyof ElementsRefsOf<S>]: K extends keyof ElementRefsOf<S>
+      ? RefNameConflict<K>
+      : ElementsRefsOf<S>[K];
+  };
 };
diff --git a/test/types.test-d.ts b/test/types.test-d.ts
index 5e76b13..f0a0219 100644
--- a/test/types.test-d.ts
+++ b/test/types.test-d.ts
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ describe('conflicts', () => {
     WebComponent({ props: { signal: string() } });
     // @ts-expect-error -- `attributeFor` is reserved for the static lookup
     WebComponent({ props: { attributeFor: string() } });
+    // @ts-expect-error -- `observedAttributes` is a static of the class
+    WebComponent({ props: { observedAttributes: string() } });
   });
 
   test('conflicts are checked against the base class', () => {
@@ -168,8 +170,31 @@ describe('conflicts', () => {
     // @ts-expect-error -- `sparkle` is on the base
     WebComponent({ base: Fancy, props: { sparkle: enable() } });
 
+    class WithStatic extends HTMLElement {
+      static shine = 1;
+    }
+    // @ts-expect-error -- `shine` is a static on the base
+    WebComponent({ base: WithStatic, props: { shine: enable() } });
+
     const El = WebComponent({ base: Fancy, props: { glow: enable() } });
     expectTypeOf(new El().sparkle).toEqualTypeOf<boolean>();
     expectTypeOf(new El().glow).toEqualTypeOf<boolean>();
   });
 });
+
+describe('ref conflicts', () => {
+  test('a key in both element and elements is rejected', () => {
+    WebComponent({
+      // @ts-expect-error -- `input` is also in elements
+      element: { input: 'input', button: 'button' },
+      // @ts-expect-error -- `input` is also in element
+      elements: { input: 'textarea', items: 'li' },
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('distinct keys are fine', () => {
+    const El = WebComponent({ element: { input: 'input' }, elements: { inputs: 'input' } });
+    expectTypeOf(new El().refs.input).toEqualTypeOf<HTMLInputElement | null>();
+    expectTypeOf(new El().refs.inputs).toEqualTypeOf<HTMLInputElement[]>();
+  });
+});