diff --git a/build_docs.pl b/build_docs.pl
index 695537334b70a..8d91d018aef38 100755
--- a/build_docs.pl
+++ b/build_docs.pl
@@ -408,7 +408,18 @@ sub check_kibana_links {
         #
         # TODO: remove as part of
         # https://github.com/elastic/docs/issues/2264
-        $branch = $version eq "master" ? "main" : $version;
+        if ($version eq "master") {
+            $branch = "main";
+        }
+        else {
+            # Temporary work-around for 8.x branch masquerading as 8.16
+            if ($version eq "8.16") {
+                $branch = "8.x";
+            }
+            else {
+                $branch = $version;
+            }
+        }
         say "  Branch: $branch, Version: $version";
         my $links_file;
         my $source = eval {
diff --git a/conf.yaml b/conf.yaml
index f0627754a19b9..0c16000fca98f 100644
--- a/conf.yaml
+++ b/conf.yaml
@@ -1271,7 +1271,7 @@ contents:
             prefix:     en/elastic-stack
             current:    *stackcurrent
             index:      docs/en/install-upgrade/index.asciidoc
-            branches:   [ {main: master}, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+            branches:   [ {main: master}, {8.x: 8.16}, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
             live:       *stacklive
             chunk:      1
             tags:       Elastic Stack/Installation and Upgrade
@@ -1283,11 +1283,11 @@ contents:
               -
                 repo:   apm-server
                 path:   changelogs
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   apm-server
                 path:   docs/
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   beats
                 path:   libbeat/docs
@@ -1298,15 +1298,15 @@ contents:
               -
                 repo:   elasticsearch-hadoop
                 path:   docs/src/reference/asciidoc
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   security-docs
                 path:   docs/
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   kibana
                 path:   docs/
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   logstash
                 path:   docs/
@@ -1314,7 +1314,7 @@ contents:
               -
                 repo:   observability-docs
                 path:   docs/en/observability
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   docs
                 path:   shared/versions/stack/{version}.asciidoc
@@ -1327,11 +1327,11 @@ contents:
               -
                 repo:   docs
                 path:   shared/attributes62.asciidoc
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
           - title:      Kibana Guide
             prefix:     en/kibana
             current:    *stackcurrent
-            branches:   [ {main: master}, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.0 ]
+            branches:   [ {main: master}, {8.x: 8.16}, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.0 ]
             live:       *stacklive
             index:      docs/index.x.asciidoc
             chunk:      1
@@ -1346,7 +1346,7 @@ contents:
                 repo:   x-pack-kibana
                 prefix: kibana-extra/x-pack-kibana
                 path:   docs/en
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   docs
                 path:   shared/versions/stack/{version}.asciidoc
@@ -1358,11 +1358,11 @@ contents:
               -
                 repo:   docs
                 path:   shared/attributes62.asciidoc
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   docs
                 path:   shared/legacy-attrs.asciidoc
-                exclude_branches: [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 3.0 ]
+                exclude_branches: [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.15, 7.14, 7.13, 7.12, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 3.0 ]
               -
                 repo:   kibana
                 # git-archive requires `:(glob)` for ** to match no directory (in order to include `examples/README.asciidoc`)
@@ -1508,7 +1508,7 @@ contents:
                 # Required only for versions 7.12-7.15
                 repo:   apm-server
                 path:   docs
-                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
+                exclude_branches:   [ main, 8.x, 8.15, 8.14, 8.13, 8.12, 8.11, 8.10, 8.9, 8.8, 8.7, 8.6, 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, 8.0, 7.17, 7.16, 7.11, 7.10, 7.9, 7.8, 7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.8, 6.7, 6.6, 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 ]
           - title:      Logstash Reference
             prefix:     en/logstash
             current:    *stackcurrent
diff --git a/shared/attributes.asciidoc b/shared/attributes.asciidoc
index 8c95efdd001dd..cd67a2f103586 100644
--- a/shared/attributes.asciidoc
+++ b/shared/attributes.asciidoc
@@ -550,15 +550,3 @@ Legacy definitions
 :apm-overview-ref-m:   https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/apm/get-started/master
 :infra-guide:          https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/infrastructure/guide/{branch}
 :a-data-source:        a data view
-
-//////////
-8.x links
-The if directives below are required for 8.x docs that are not yet available.
-Without these if directives, the links fail and break the build.
-//////////
-
-ifdef::8x-missing-links[]
-:kibana-ref:                   https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/kibana/master
-:apm-app-ref:                  https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/kibana/master
-:stack-ref:                    https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elastic-stack/master
-endif::[]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/shared/versions/stack/8.x.asciidoc b/shared/versions/stack/8.x.asciidoc
index 7713d3c79a30c..1ca51a44e1aef 100644
--- a/shared/versions/stack/8.x.asciidoc
+++ b/shared/versions/stack/8.x.asciidoc
@@ -73,8 +73,3 @@ Synthetics
 API URLs
 ////
 :api-kibana:           https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/kibana/v8
-
-//////////
-8x-missing-links can be: true | false
-//////////
-:8x-missing-links:    true
\ No newline at end of file