diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index ae08af92fcdf..f2ddb3852df3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -4757,6 +4757,7 @@ def fill_between(self, x, y1, y2=0, where=None, interpolate=False,
                 for filling between two sets of x-values
 
         """
+
         if not rcParams['_internal.classic_mode']:
             color_aliases = mcoll._color_aliases
             kwargs = cbook.normalize_kwargs(kwargs, color_aliases)
@@ -4774,6 +4775,11 @@ def fill_between(self, x, y1, y2=0, where=None, interpolate=False,
         y1 = ma.masked_invalid(self.convert_yunits(y1))
         y2 = ma.masked_invalid(self.convert_yunits(y2))
 
+        for name, array in [('x', x), ('y1', y1), ('y2', y2)]:
+            if array.ndim > 1:
+                raise ValueError('Input passed into argument "%r"' % name +
+                                 'is not 1-dimensional.')
+
         if y1.ndim == 0:
             y1 = np.ones_like(x) * y1
         if y2.ndim == 0:
@@ -4918,6 +4924,7 @@ def fill_betweenx(self, y, x1, x2=0, where=None,
                 for filling between two sets of y-values
 
         """
+
         if not rcParams['_internal.classic_mode']:
             color_aliases = mcoll._color_aliases
             kwargs = cbook.normalize_kwargs(kwargs, color_aliases)
@@ -4934,6 +4941,11 @@ def fill_betweenx(self, y, x1, x2=0, where=None,
         x1 = ma.masked_invalid(self.convert_xunits(x1))
         x2 = ma.masked_invalid(self.convert_xunits(x2))
 
+        for name, array in [('y', y), ('x1', x1), ('x2', x2)]:
+            if array.ndim > 1:
+                raise ValueError('Input passed into argument "%r"' % name +
+                                 'is not 1-dimensional.')
+
         if x1.ndim == 0:
             x1 = np.ones_like(y) * x1
         if x2.ndim == 0:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
index dde3c5a806ef..6f506c59913d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_axes.py
@@ -725,6 +725,45 @@ def test_polycollection_joinstyle():
     ax.set_ybound(0, 3)
 
 
+@cleanup
+def test_fill_between_2d_x_input():
+    x = np.zeros((2, 2))
+    y1 = 3
+    y2 = 3
+
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(211)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ax.plot(x, y1, x, y2, color='black')
+        ax.fill_between(x, y1, y2)
+
+
+@cleanup
+def test_fill_between_2d_y1_input():
+    x = np.arange(0.0, 2, 0.02)
+    y1 = np.zeros((2, 2))
+    y2 = 3
+
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(211)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ax.plot(x, y1, x, y2, color='black')
+        ax.fill_between(x, y1, y2)
+
+
+@cleanup
+def test_fill_between_2d_y2_input():
+    x = np.arange(0.0, 2, 0.02)
+    y1 = 3
+    y2 = np.zeros((2, 2))
+
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(211)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ax.plot(x, y1, x, y2, color='black')
+        ax.fill_between(x, y1, y2)
+
+
 @image_comparison(baseline_images=['fill_between_interpolate'],
                   remove_text=True)
 def test_fill_between_interpolate():
@@ -4801,6 +4840,45 @@ def test_tick_param_label_rotation():
         assert text.get_rotation() == 90
 
 
+@cleanup
+def test_fill_betweenx_2d_y_input():
+    y = np.zeros((2, 2))
+    x1 = 3
+    x2 = 3
+
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(211)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ax.plot(y, x1, y, x2, color='black')
+        ax.fill_betweenx(y, x1, x2)
+
+
+@cleanup
+def test_fill_betweenx_2d_x1_input():
+    y = np.arange(0.0, 2, 0.02)
+    x1 = np.zeros((2, 2))
+    x2 = 3
+
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(211)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ax.plot(y, x1, y, x2, color='black')
+        ax.fill_betweenx(y, x1, x2)
+
+
+@cleanup
+def test_fill_betweenx_2d_x2_input():
+    y = np.arange(0.0, 2, 0.02)
+    x1 = 3
+    x2 = np.zeros((2, 2))
+
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(211)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        ax.plot(y, x1, y, x2, color='black')
+        ax.fill_betweenx(y, x1, x2)
+
+
 @cleanup(style='default')
 def test_fillbetween_cycle():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()