diff --git a/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/dataplane_from_numpy_array.cc b/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/dataplane_from_numpy_array.cc
index 5efd29d3c6..6dd44b3815 100644
--- a/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/dataplane_from_numpy_array.cc
+++ b/met/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/dataplane_from_numpy_array.cc
@@ -241,6 +241,21 @@ else {
 
    grid_from_python_dict(Python3_Dict(py_grid), grid_out);
 
+}
+
+   //
+   // make sure the grid and data dimensions match
+   //
+
+if ( grid_out.nx() != Nx || grid_out.ny() != Ny ) {
+
+   mlog << Error << "\ndataplane_from_numpy_array() -> "
+        << "the grid dimensions (" << grid_out.nx() << ", "
+        << grid_out.ny() << ") and data dimensions (" << Nx
+        << ", " << Ny << ") do not match!\n\n";
+
+   exit ( 1 );
+
 }
 
      ////////////////////