diff --git a/src/backend.f90 b/src/backend.f90
index 138c01da..437df679 100644
--- a/src/backend.f90
+++ b/src/backend.f90
@@ -71,11 +71,10 @@ subroutine tds_solve(self, du, u, tdsops)
       !! transeq equation obtains the derivatives direction by
       !! direction, and the exact algorithm used to obtain these
       !! derivatives are decided at runtime. Backend implementations
-      !! are responsible from directing calls to transeq_ders into
-      !! the correct algorithm.
+      !! are responsible from directing calls to tds_solve to the
+      !! correct algorithm.
       import :: base_backend_t
       import :: field_t
-      import :: dirps_t
       import :: tdsops_t
       implicit none
 
diff --git a/src/vector_calculus.f90 b/src/vector_calculus.f90
index 5277397c..f1f9a24c 100644
--- a/src/vector_calculus.f90
+++ b/src/vector_calculus.f90
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 module m_vector_calculus
+  use iso_fortran_env, only: stderr => error_unit
+
   use m_allocator, only: allocator_t, field_t
   use m_base_backend, only: base_backend_t
   use m_common, only: dp, DIR_X, DIR_Y, DIR_Z, &
@@ -51,6 +53,13 @@ subroutine curl(self, o_i_hat, o_j_hat, o_k_hat, u, v, w, &
     class(field_t), pointer :: u_y, u_z, v_z, w_y, dwdy_y, dvdz_z, dvdz_x, &
       dudz_z, dudz_x, dudy_y, dudy_x
 
+    if (o_i_hat%dir /= DIR_X .or. o_j_hat%dir /= DIR_X &
+        .or. o_k_hat%dir /= DIR_X .or. u%dir /= DIR_X .or. v%dir /= DIR_X &
+        .or. w%dir /= DIR_X) then
+      error stop 'Error in curl input/output field %dirs: &
+                  &outputs and inputs must be in DIR_X layout.'
+    end if
+
     ! omega_i_hat = dw/dy - dv/dz
     ! omega_j_hat = du/dz - dw/dx
     ! omega_k_hat = dv/dx - du/dy
@@ -152,6 +161,12 @@ subroutine divergence_v2c(self, div_u, u, v, w, &
       u_y, v_y, w_y, du_y, dv_y, dw_y, &
       u_z, w_z, dw_z
 
+    if (div_u%dir /= DIR_Z .or. u%dir /= DIR_X .or. v%dir /= DIR_X &
+        .or. w%dir /= DIR_X) then
+      error stop 'Error in divergence_v2c input/output field dirs: &
+                  &output must be in DIR_Z, inputs must be in DIR_X layout.'
+    end if
+
     du_x => self%backend%allocator%get_block(DIR_X)
     dv_x => self%backend%allocator%get_block(DIR_X)
     dw_x => self%backend%allocator%get_block(DIR_X)
@@ -253,6 +268,12 @@ subroutine gradient_c2v(self, dpdx, dpdy, dpdz, p, &
       p_sx_y, dpdy_sx_y, dpdz_sx_y, &
       p_sx_x, dpdy_sx_x, dpdz_sx_x
 
+    if (dpdx%dir /= DIR_X .or. dpdy%dir /= DIR_X .or. dpdz%dir /= DIR_X &
+        .or. p%dir /= DIR_Z) then
+      error stop 'Error in gradient_c2v input/output field dirs: &
+                  &outputs must be in DIR_X, input must be in DIR_Z layout.'
+    end if
+
     p_sxy_z => self%backend%allocator%get_block(DIR_Z)
     dpdz_sxy_z => self%backend%allocator%get_block(DIR_Z)
 
@@ -328,6 +349,11 @@ subroutine laplacian(self, lapl_u, u, x_der2nd, y_der2nd, z_der2nd)
 
     class(field_t), pointer :: u_y, d2u_y, u_z, d2u_z
 
+    if (u%dir /= DIR_X .or. lapl_u%dir /= DIR_X) then
+      error stop 'Error in laplacian input/output field %dirs: &
+                  &outputs and inputs must be in DIR_X layout.'
+    end if
+
     ! d2u/dx2
     call self%backend%tds_solve(lapl_u, u, x_der2nd)