diff --git a/xrspatial/polygonize.py b/xrspatial/polygonize.py
index 6bf4a3ac..7f5d76d1 100644
--- a/xrspatial/polygonize.py
+++ b/xrspatial/polygonize.py
@@ -45,7 +45,12 @@
 except ImportError:
     cupy = None
 
-from .utils import ArrayTypeFunctionMapping, is_cupy_array, ngjit
+from .utils import (
+    ArrayTypeFunctionMapping,
+    _validate_raster,
+    is_cupy_array,
+    ngjit,
+)
 
 _regions_dtype = np.uint32
 _visited_dtype = np.uint8
@@ -1620,12 +1625,15 @@ def polygonize(
     For Dask+CuPy, each chunk is transferred independently, keeping peak
     CPU memory proportional to chunk size rather than full raster size.
     """
-    if raster.ndim != 2 or raster.shape[0] < 1 or raster.shape[1] < 1:
+    _validate_raster(raster, func_name='polygonize', name='raster', ndim=2)
+    if raster.shape[0] < 1 or raster.shape[1] < 1:
         raise ValueError(
             "Raster array must be 2D with a shape of at least (1, 1)")
 
     # Check mask.
     if mask is not None:
+        _validate_raster(mask, func_name='polygonize', name='mask',
+                         ndim=2, numeric=False)
         if not (type(raster.data) is type(mask.data)):  # noqa: E721
             raise TypeError(
                 "raster and mask have different underlying types: "
diff --git a/xrspatial/tests/test_polygonize.py b/xrspatial/tests/test_polygonize.py
index 0ad2c01f..07ead34f 100644
--- a/xrspatial/tests/test_polygonize.py
+++ b/xrspatial/tests/test_polygonize.py
@@ -1068,3 +1068,49 @@ def test_simplify_cupy_matches_numpy(self):
 
         for val in areas_np:
             assert_allclose(areas_cp[val], areas_np[val], atol=1e-10)
+
+
+# =====================================================================
+# Issue #1441: _validate_raster on raster + mask
+# =====================================================================
+
+import xarray as _xr_for_validation
+
+
+class TestPolygonizeInputValidation:
+    """polygonize() rejects bad raster / mask inputs (#1441)."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _good_raster():
+        return _xr_for_validation.DataArray(
+            np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.int32),
+            dims=('y', 'x'),
+            coords={'y': np.arange(4), 'x': np.arange(4)},
+        )
+
+    def test_rejects_non_dataarray_raster(self):
+        from xrspatial.polygonize import polygonize
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="xarray.DataArray"):
+            polygonize(np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.int32))
+
+    def test_rejects_complex_dtype_raster(self):
+        from xrspatial.polygonize import polygonize
+        bad = _xr_for_validation.DataArray(
+            np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.complex128),
+            dims=('y', 'x'),
+            coords={'y': np.arange(4), 'x': np.arange(4)},
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="real numeric"):
+            polygonize(bad)
+
+    def test_rejects_1d_raster(self):
+        from xrspatial.polygonize import polygonize
+        bad = _xr_for_validation.DataArray(
+            np.zeros(4, dtype=np.int32), dims=('y',))
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r"must be 2D"):
+            polygonize(bad)
+
+    def test_rejects_non_dataarray_mask(self):
+        from xrspatial.polygonize import polygonize
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="xarray.DataArray"):
+            polygonize(self._good_raster(), mask=np.ones((4, 4), dtype=bool))