diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs
index 9caf4551a..52b34e101 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/create.rs
@@ -302,7 +302,14 @@ pub fn create(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
             }
             (w, h, offset) = (shape.width, shape.height, shape.offset);
         } else if let Some(Value::Array(pts)) = get(p, "points") {
-            let pts: Vec<Point> = pts.iter().filter_map(|v| Some(Point::new(f64_of(v.get(0)?)?, f64_of(v.get(1)?)?))).collect();
+            let pts: Vec<Point> = pts
+                .iter()
+                .map(|v| {
+                    let xy = v.as_array().filter(|a| a.len() == 2)?;
+                    Some(Point::new(f64_of(&xy[0])?, f64_of(&xy[1])?))
+                })
+                .collect::<Option<_>>()
+                .ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, "`points` entries must be numeric [x, y] pairs"))?;
             if pts.len() < 2 {
                 return Err(bad(cmd, "`points` needs at least two [x, y] pairs"));
             }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/draw_tools_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/draw_tools_tests.rs
index c5b84d210..6a7b47b59 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/draw_tools_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/draw_tools_tests.rs
@@ -378,3 +378,12 @@ fn the_text_on_a_path_tool_carries_a_fill_bound_through_fills() {
     let t = editing(&s).expect("typing starts on the path");
     assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().node(t).unwrap().bound, bound, "the fill keeps following its variable");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn bad_point_is_rejected() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    assert!(s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"points": [[0, 0], ["abc", 5], [100, 100]], "closed": false})).is_err());
+    assert!(s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"points": [[0, 0], [1], [100, 100]]})).is_err());
+    assert!(s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"points": [[0, 0], 7, [100, 100]]})).is_err());
+    assert!(s.execute("vector.create", &json!({"points": [[0, 0], [50, 5], [100, 100]]})).is_ok());
+}