diff --git a/jax/_src/random.py b/jax/_src/random.py
index 2a395d04e52e..0aba6729ca42 100644
--- a/jax/_src/random.py
+++ b/jax/_src/random.py
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ def key(seed: Union[int, Array]) -> PRNGKeyArray:
   """
   # TODO(frostig): Take impl as optional argument
   impl = default_prng_impl()
+  if isinstance(seed, prng.PRNGKeyArray):
+    raise TypeError("key accepts a scalar seed, but was given a PRNGKeyArray.")
+  if np.ndim(seed):
+    raise TypeError("key accepts a scalar seed, but was given an array of "
+                    f"shape {np.shape(seed)} != (). Use jax.vmap for batching")
   return prng.seed_with_impl(impl, seed)
 
 def PRNGKey(seed: Union[int, Array]) -> KeyArray:
diff --git a/tests/random_test.py b/tests/random_test.py
index c99942519fe8..7041f8915850 100644
--- a/tests/random_test.py
+++ b/tests/random_test.py
@@ -1654,6 +1654,22 @@ def test_key_as_seed(self):
     key = self.make_keys()
     with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "PRNGKey accepts a scalar seed"):
       jax.random.PRNGKey(key)
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "key accepts a scalar seed"):
+      jax.random.key(key)
+
+  def test_non_scalar_seed(self):
+    seed_arr = np.arange(4)
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "PRNGKey accepts a scalar seed"):
+      jax.random.PRNGKey(seed_arr)
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "key accepts a scalar seed"):
+      jax.random.key(seed_arr)
+
+  def test_non_integer_seed(self):
+    seed = np.pi
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "PRNG key seed must be an integer"):
+      jax.random.PRNGKey(seed)
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "PRNG key seed must be an integer"):
+      jax.random.key(seed)
 
   def test_dtype_property(self):
     k1, k2 = self.make_keys(), self.make_keys()