diff --git a/holoviews/core/data/xarray.py b/holoviews/core/data/xarray.py
index c1cad1a16e..a1828e1d41 100644
--- a/holoviews/core/data/xarray.py
+++ b/holoviews/core/data/xarray.py
@@ -276,6 +276,13 @@ def validate(cls, dataset, vdims=True):
                                 "non-matching array dimensions:\n\n%s"
                                 % ('\n'.join(nonmatching)), cls)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def irregular(cls, dataset, dim):
+        if dataset.data[dimension_name(dim)].ndim > 1:
+            return True
+        dim_name = dimension_name(dim)
+        return dim_name not in dataset.data.dims and dim_name in dataset.data.coords
+
     @classmethod
     def compute(cls, dataset):
         return dataset.clone(dataset.data.compute())