diff --git a/src/strands/ir_builders.js b/src/strands/ir_builders.js
index ff73748c9b..edbd86cf61 100644
--- a/src/strands/ir_builders.js
+++ b/src/strands/ir_builders.js
@@ -214,6 +214,46 @@ export function binaryOpNode(
     }
   }
 
+  const leftDim = dag.dimensions[finalLeftNodeID];
+  const rightDim = dag.dimensions[finalRightNodeID];
+  const leftBase = dag.baseTypes[finalLeftNodeID];
+  const rightBase = dag.baseTypes[finalRightNodeID];
+
+  const isOrdering = [
+    OpCode.Binary.LESS_THAN,
+    OpCode.Binary.LESS_EQUAL,
+    OpCode.Binary.GREATER_THAN,
+    OpCode.Binary.GREATER_EQUAL,
+  ].includes(opCode);
+  const isEquality = opCode === OpCode.Binary.EQUAL || opCode === OpCode.Binary.NOT_EQUAL;
+  const isLogical  = opCode === OpCode.Binary.LOGICAL_AND || opCode === OpCode.Binary.LOGICAL_OR;
+
+  if (isOrdering) {
+    if (leftDim > 1 || rightDim > 1) {
+      FES.userError(
+        'type error',
+        `${OpCodeToSymbol[opCode]} is only defined for scalars. ` +
+        `Got ${leftBase}${leftDim} ${OpCodeToSymbol[opCode]} ${rightBase}${rightDim}.`
+      );
+    }
+  } else if (isEquality) {
+    if ((leftDim > 1 || rightDim > 1) && (leftDim !== rightDim || leftBase !== rightBase)) {
+      FES.userError(
+        'type error',
+        `Equality comparisons between vectors require matching dimensions and base types. ` +
+        `Got ${leftBase}${leftDim} ${OpCodeToSymbol[opCode]} ${rightBase}${rightDim}.`
+      );
+    }
+  } else if (isLogical) {
+    if (leftBase !== BaseType.BOOL || rightBase !== BaseType.BOOL || leftDim !== 1 || rightDim !== 1) {
+      FES.userError(
+        'type error',
+        `${OpCodeToSymbol[opCode]} requires two bool scalars. ` +
+        `Got ${leftBase}${leftDim} ${OpCodeToSymbol[opCode]} ${rightBase}${rightDim}.`
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
   if (booleanOpCode[opCode]) {
     cast.toType.baseType = BaseType.BOOL;
     cast.toType.dimension = 1;
diff --git a/test/unit/webgl/p5.Shader.js b/test/unit/webgl/p5.Shader.js
index 06791151af..97ebb49427 100644
--- a/test/unit/webgl/p5.Shader.js
+++ b/test/unit/webgl/p5.Shader.js
@@ -3796,6 +3796,118 @@ suite('p5.Shader', function () {
       assert.include(errMsg, 'float4');
     });
 
+    test('ordering comparison with a vector operand throws a clear strands type error', () => {
+      myp5.createCanvas(50, 50, myp5.WEBGL);
+
+      try {
+        myp5.baseMaterialShader().modify(
+          () => {
+            myp5.getFinalColor(color => {
+              if (color < 2) {
+                color = [1, 1, 1, 1];
+              }
+              return color;
+            });
+          },
+          { myp5 }
+        );
+      } catch (e) {
+        /* expected */
+      }
+
+      assert.isAbove(
+        mockUserError.mock.calls.length,
+        0,
+        'FES.userError should have been called'
+      );
+      const errMsg = mockUserError.mock.calls[0][1];
+      assert.include(errMsg, '<');
+      assert.include(errMsg, 'only defined for scalars');
+    });
+
+    test('ordering comparison between scalars is allowed', () => {
+      myp5.createCanvas(50, 50, myp5.WEBGL);
+
+      myp5.baseMaterialShader().modify(
+        () => {
+          myp5.getFinalColor(color => {
+            if (color.r < 0.5) {
+              color = [1, 1, 1, 1];
+            }
+            return color;
+          });
+        },
+        { myp5 }
+      );
+
+      assert.equal(mockUserError.mock.calls.length, 0);
+    });
+
+    test('equality comparison between matching vectors is allowed', () => {
+      myp5.createCanvas(50, 50, myp5.WEBGL);
+
+      myp5.baseMaterialShader().modify(
+        () => {
+          myp5.getFinalColor(color => {
+            if (color.equalTo([1, 1, 1, 1])) {
+              color = [1, 1, 1, 1];
+            }
+            return color;
+          });
+        },
+        { myp5 }
+      );
+
+      assert.equal(mockUserError.mock.calls.length, 0);
+    });
+
+    test('logical and with non-boolean operands throws a clear strands type error', () => {
+      myp5.createCanvas(50, 50, myp5.WEBGL);
+
+      try {
+        myp5.baseMaterialShader().modify(
+          () => {
+            myp5.getFinalColor(color => {
+              if (color.r && color.g) {
+                color = [1, 1, 1, 1];
+              }
+              return color;
+            });
+          },
+          { myp5 }
+        );
+      } catch (e) {
+        /* expected */
+      }
+
+      assert.isAbove(
+        mockUserError.mock.calls.length,
+        0,
+        'FES.userError should have been called'
+      );
+      const errMsg = mockUserError.mock.calls[0][1];
+      assert.include(errMsg, '&&');
+      assert.include(errMsg, 'requires two bool scalars');
+    });
+
+    test('logical and between two boolean scalars is allowed', () => {
+      myp5.createCanvas(50, 50, myp5.WEBGL);
+
+      myp5.baseMaterialShader().modify(
+        () => {
+          myp5.getFinalColor(color => {
+            if (color.r < 0.5 && color.g > 0.5) {
+              color = [1, 1, 1, 1];
+            }
+            return color;
+          });
+        },
+        { myp5 }
+      );
+
+      assert.equal(mockUserError.mock.calls.length, 0);
+    });
+
     test('shows a helpful error for web editor loop protection', () => {
       myp5.createCanvas(50, 50, myp5.WEBGL);