diff --git a/d2compiler/compile.go b/d2compiler/compile.go
index 0236a9ce2..aea9cbfa2 100644
--- a/d2compiler/compile.go
+++ b/d2compiler/compile.go
@@ -705,6 +705,12 @@ func (c *compiler) validateKey(obj *d2graph.Object, f *d2ir.Field) {
 			if !in && arrowheadIn {
 				c.errorf(f.LastPrimaryKey(), fmt.Sprintf(`invalid shape, can only set "%s" for arrowheads`, obj.Attributes.Shape.Value))
 			}
+		case "rows", "columns":
+			for _, child := range obj.ChildrenArray {
+				if child.IsContainer() {
+					c.errorf(f.LastPrimaryKey(), fmt.Sprintf(`invalid grid %#v. can only set %#v with no descendants (see %#v)`, obj.AbsID(), keyword, child.ChildrenArray[0].AbsID()))
+				}
+			}
 		}
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/d2compiler/compile_test.go b/d2compiler/compile_test.go
index 4afc52fbf..570163653 100644
--- a/d2compiler/compile_test.go
+++ b/d2compiler/compile_test.go
@@ -2303,6 +2303,21 @@ obj {
 d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_edge.d2:5:2: edge "c -> hey.b" cannot enter grid "hey"
 d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_edge.d2:6:2: edge "hey.a -> c" cannot enter grid "hey"`,
 		},
+		{
+			name: "grid_nested",
+			text: `hey: {
+	rows: 200
+	columns: 200
+
+	a
+	b
+	c
+	d.invalid descendant
+}
+`,
+			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.d2:2:2: invalid grid "hey". can only set "rows" with no descendants (see "hey.d.invalid descendant")
+d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.d2:3:2: invalid grid "hey". can only set "columns" with no descendants (see "hey.d.invalid descendant")`,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
diff --git a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.exp.json b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.exp.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..22f85db05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.exp.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "graph": null,
+  "err": {
+    "ioerr": null,
+    "errs": [
+      {
+        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.d2,1:1:8-1:10:17",
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.d2:2:2: invalid grid \"hey\". can only set \"rows\" with no descendants (see \"hey.d.invalid descendant\")"
+      },
+      {
+        "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.d2,2:1:19-2:13:31",
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/grid_nested.d2:3:2: invalid grid \"hey\". can only set \"columns\" with no descendants (see \"hey.d.invalid descendant\")"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}