diff --git a/loopy/kernel/array.py b/loopy/kernel/array.py
index bd72152ad0abc4aacd63816c46631ef608565742..9abbe81956da021a79f6cc1e3f61f9d958ed1c8e 100644
--- a/loopy/kernel/array.py
+++ b/loopy/kernel/array.py
@@ -298,21 +298,22 @@ def parse_array_dim_tags(dim_tags, use_increasing_target_axes=False):
         has_explicit_nesting_level, parsed_dim_tag = _parse_array_dim_tag(
             dim_tag, default_target_axis, nesting_levels)
 
-        # {{{ check for C/F mixed with explicit layout nesting level specs
-
-        if parsed_dim_tag.target_axis in target_axis_to_has_explicit_nesting_level:
-            if (has_explicit_nesting_level
-                    != target_axis_to_has_explicit_nesting_level[
-                        parsed_dim_tag.target_axis]):
-                raise LoopyError("may not mix C/F dim_tag specifications with "
-                        "explicit specification of layout nesting levels")
-        else:
-            target_axis_to_has_explicit_nesting_level[parsed_dim_tag.target_axis] = \
-                    has_explicit_nesting_level
+        if isinstance(parsed_dim_tag, _StrideArrayDimTagBase):
+            # {{{ check for C/F mixed with explicit layout nesting level specs
+
+            if (parsed_dim_tag.target_axis
+                    in target_axis_to_has_explicit_nesting_level):
+                if (has_explicit_nesting_level
+                        != target_axis_to_has_explicit_nesting_level[
+                            parsed_dim_tag.target_axis]):
+                    raise LoopyError("may not mix C/F dim_tag specifications with "
+                            "explicit specification of layout nesting levels")
+            else:
+                target_axis_to_has_explicit_nesting_level[parsed_dim_tag.target_axis] = \
+                        has_explicit_nesting_level
 
-        # }}}
+            # }}}
 
-        if isinstance(parsed_dim_tag, _StrideArrayDimTagBase):
             lnl = parsed_dim_tag.layout_nesting_level
             target_axis = parsed_dim_tag.target_axis
             if lnl is not None: