diff --git a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
index fd4fdb0..13ed14d 100644
--- a/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/scripts/nvbench_compare.py
@@ -1121,6 +1121,16 @@ def is_nonnegative_finite(value):
     return value is not None and math.isfinite(value) and value >= 0.0
 
 
+def parse_plot_axis_value(axis_name, axis_value):
+    try:
+        return float(axis_value)
+    except (TypeError, ValueError) as exc:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"--plot-along requires numeric axis values; "
+            f"axis {axis_name!r} has value {axis_value!r}"
+        ) from exc
+
+
 def make_timing_interval(lower, upper, center):
     if (
         not is_positive_finite(lower)
@@ -2783,7 +2793,7 @@ def compare_benches(
                         if av["name"] != plot_along:
                             axis_name_parts.append(f"""{av["name"]} = {av["value"]}""")
                         else:
-                            axis_value = float(av["value"])
+                            axis_value = parse_plot_axis_value(av["name"], av["value"])
                     if axis_value is not None:
                         axis_name = ", ".join(axis_name_parts)
 
diff --git a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
index 1d2e2fc..9e1b3ee 100644
--- a/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
+++ b/python/test/test_nvbench_compare.py
@@ -1594,6 +1594,35 @@ def test_plot_along_skips_states_without_selected_axis(monkeypatch, nvbench_comp
     assert run_data.stats.unknown_count == 0
 
 
+def test_plot_along_rejects_non_numeric_axis_values(monkeypatch, nvbench_compare):
+    run_data = make_comparison_run_data(nvbench_compare)
+
+    ref_benches = [
+        make_benchmark([make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", axis_value="F32")])
+    ]
+    cmp_benches = [
+        make_benchmark([make_state(nvbench_compare, "state", axis_value="F32")])
+    ]
+    ref_benches[0]["axes"] = [{"name": "A", "type": "type", "flags": ""}]
+    cmp_benches[0]["axes"] = [{"name": "A", "type": "type", "flags": ""}]
+
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValueError,
+        match="--plot-along requires numeric axis values; axis 'A' has value 'F32'",
+    ):
+        nvbench_compare.compare_benches(
+            run_data,
+            ref_benches,
+            cmp_benches,
+            threshold=0.0,
+            plot_along="A",
+            plot=False,
+            dark=False,
+            filter_plan=make_filter_plan(nvbench_compare),
+            no_color=True,
+        )
+
+
 def test_device_filter_parser_accepts_all_and_duplicate_ids(nvbench_compare):
     assert nvbench_compare.parse_device_filter(" all ", "--reference-devices") is None
     assert nvbench_compare.parse_device_filter("0", "--reference-devices") == [0]