diff --git a/virtualizarr/manifests/array.py b/virtualizarr/manifests/array.py
index f6d93819..6430dc64 100644
--- a/virtualizarr/manifests/array.py
+++ b/virtualizarr/manifests/array.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     expand_dims,
 )
 from virtualizarr.manifests.manifest import ChunkManifest
+from virtualizarr.utils import determine_chunk_grid_shape
 
 
 class ManifestArray:
@@ -64,7 +65,16 @@ def __init__(
                 f"chunkmanifest arg must be of type ChunkManifest or dict, but got type {type(chunkmanifest)}"
             )
 
-        # TODO check that the metadata shape and chunkmanifest shape are consistent with one another
+        # check that the metadata shape and chunkmanifest shape are consistent with one another
+        metadata_chunk_grid_shape = determine_chunk_grid_shape(
+            shape=metadata.shape, chunks=metadata.chunks
+        )
+        if _chunkmanifest.shape_chunk_grid != metadata_chunk_grid_shape:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Set of virtual chunk keys in manifest do not match shape of chunk grid implied by array metadata. \n"
+                f"Keys in chunkmanifest imply a chunk grid shape of {_chunkmanifest.shape_chunk_grid} but the metadata contains shape={_metadata.shape} and chunks={_metadata.chunks} which imply a chunk grid shape of {metadata_chunk_grid_shape}"
+            )
+
         # TODO also cover the special case of scalar arrays
 
         self._metadata = _metadata
diff --git a/virtualizarr/tests/test_manifests/test_array.py b/virtualizarr/tests/test_manifests/test_array.py
index 57535782..f8c948dd 100644
--- a/virtualizarr/tests/test_manifests/test_array.py
+++ b/virtualizarr/tests/test_manifests/test_array.py
@@ -49,6 +49,21 @@ def test_manifest_array_dict_v3_metadata(self, array_v3_metadata):
         assert marr.size == 5 * 2 * 20
         assert marr.ndim == 3
 
+    def test_consistency_checks(self, array_v3_metadata):
+        # create a manifest with only one chunk
+        chunks_dict = {
+            "0": {"path": "s3://bucket/foo.nc", "offset": 100, "length": 100},
+        }
+        manifest = ChunkManifest(entries=chunks_dict)
+
+        # but array metadata implying there should be two chunks
+        chunks = (1,)
+        shape = (2,)
+        metadata = array_v3_metadata(shape=shape, chunks=chunks)
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="do not match shape of chunk grid"):
+            ManifestArray(metadata=metadata, chunkmanifest=manifest)
+
 
 class TestResultType:
     def test_idempotent(self, manifest_array):