diff --git a/dali/python/nvidia/dali/ops/_operators/math.py b/dali/python/nvidia/dali/ops/_operators/math.py
index cee0d84d08..94d99f6961 100644
--- a/dali/python/nvidia/dali/ops/_operators/math.py
+++ b/dali/python/nvidia/dali/ops/_operators/math.py
@@ -190,6 +190,53 @@ def _generate_input_desc(categories_idx, integers, reals):
     return input_desc
 
 
+def _has_nested_datanodes(value, visited):
+    i = id(value)
+    if i in visited:
+        return False
+    visited.add(i)
+    for x in value:
+        if isinstance(x, _DataNode):
+            return True
+        if isinstance(x, (list, tuple)):
+            if _has_nested_datanodes(value, visited):
+                return True
+    return False
+
+
+def _check_nested_datanode(op, arg, value):
+    if isinstance(value, (list, tuple)):
+        if _has_nested_datanodes(value, set()):
+            input_keyword = "argument" if isinstance(arg, str) else "input"
+            raise TypeError(
+                f"The {input_keyword} {repr(arg)} of operator `{op}` must be a `DataNode` or "
+                f"a compatible constant. "
+                f"Got a `{type(value).__name__}` with nested `DataNode`(s).\n"
+                f"Did you pass a return value of an operator producing multiple outputs?"
+            )
+
+
+_op_display_name = {
+    "add": "+",
+    "sub": "-",
+    "plus": "(unary) +",
+    "minus": "(unary) -",
+    "mul": "*",
+    "pow": "**",
+    "div": "//",
+    "fdiv": "/",
+    "bitand": "&",
+    "bitor": "|",
+    "bitxor": "^",
+    "eq": "==",
+    "neq": "!=",
+    "lt": "<",
+    "leq": "<=",
+    "gt": ">",
+    "geq": ">=",
+}
+
+
 def _arithm_op(name, *inputs, definition_frame_end=None):
     """
     Create arguments for ArithmeticGenericOp and call it with supplied inputs.
@@ -204,6 +251,10 @@ def _arithm_op(name, *inputs, definition_frame_end=None):
     """
     import nvidia.dali.ops  # Allow for late binding of the ArithmeticGenericOp from parent module.
 
+    display_name = _op_display_name.get(name, name)
+    for i, inp in enumerate(inputs):
+        _check_nested_datanode(display_name, i, inp)
+
     categories_idxs, edges, integers, reals = _group_inputs(inputs)
     input_desc = _generate_input_desc(categories_idxs, integers, reals)
     expression_desc = "{}({})".format(name, input_desc)
diff --git a/dali/test/python/operator_1/test_arithmetic_ops.py b/dali/test/python/operator_1/test_arithmetic_ops.py
index 7a189845d3..55a99fb878 100644
--- a/dali/test/python/operator_1/test_arithmetic_ops.py
+++ b/dali/test/python/operator_1/test_arithmetic_ops.py
@@ -1189,3 +1189,37 @@ def pipe():
     for device in ["cpu", "gpu"]:
         with assert_raises(RuntimeError, glob=error_msg2):
             impl(device, shape_a2, shape_b2)
+
+
+def test_nested_datanode_error_math():
+    @pipeline_def(device_id=None, batch_size=1, num_threads=4)
+    def err_pipe():
+        u = fn.random.uniform(range=[0, 1])
+        v = fn.random.uniform(range=[0, 1])
+        return math.max([u, v], 5)
+
+    with assert_raises(
+        TypeError, glob="input 0 of operator `max` must be*" "Got a `list` with nested *DataNode"
+    ):
+        _ = err_pipe()
+
+
+@params(
+    *(
+        (x,)
+        for x in ("+", "-", "*", "/", "//", "**", "&", "|", "^", "==", "!=", "<", ">", "<=", ">=")
+    )
+)
+def test_nested_datanode_error_arithm(op):
+    print(op)
+
+    @pipeline_def(device_id=None, batch_size=1, num_threads=4)
+    def err_pipe():
+        u = fn.random.uniform(range=[0, 1])  # noqa(F841)
+        v = fn.random.uniform(range=[0, 1])  # noqa(F841)
+        return eval(f"u {op} [v]")
+
+    with assert_raises(
+        TypeError, glob=f"input 1 of operator `{op}` must be*" "Got a `list` with nested *DataNode"
+    ):
+        _ = err_pipe()