diff --git a/src/YAML_types.f90 b/src/YAML_types.f90
index e11be1275..8f81923a8 100644
--- a/src/YAML_types.f90
+++ b/src/YAML_types.f90
@@ -872,11 +872,12 @@ end function tNode_get_byKey_as1dFloat
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !> @brief Access by key and convert to float array (2D)
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-function tNode_get_byKey_as2dFloat(self,k,defaultVal) result(nodeAs2dFloat)
+function tNode_get_byKey_as2dFloat(self,k,defaultVal,requiredShape) result(nodeAs2dFloat)
 
   class(tNode),     intent(in), target                   :: self
   character(len=*), intent(in)                           :: k
   real(pReal),      intent(in), dimension(:,:), optional :: defaultVal
+  integer,          intent(in), dimension(2),   optional :: requiredShape
 
   real(pReal), dimension(:,:), allocatable :: nodeAs2dFloat
 
@@ -898,6 +899,10 @@ function tNode_get_byKey_as2dFloat(self,k,defaultVal) result(nodeAs2dFloat)
     call IO_error(143,ext_msg=k)
   endif
 
+  if (present(requiredShape)) then
+    if (any(requiredShape /= shape(nodeAs2dFloat))) call IO_error(146,ext_msg=k)
+  endif
+
 end function tNode_get_byKey_as2dFloat