diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/markers.py b/lib/matplotlib/markers.py
index d5b051709ef6..366a17e4fceb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/markers.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/markers.py
@@ -249,12 +249,14 @@ def get_marker(self):
         return self._marker
 
     def set_marker(self, marker):
-        if (isinstance(marker, Sized) and len(marker) in (2, 3) and
+        if (isinstance(marker, np.ndarray) and marker.ndim == 2 and
+                marker.shape[1] == 2):
+            self._marker_function = self._set_vertices
+        elif (isinstance(marker, Sized) and len(marker) in (2, 3) and
                 marker[1] in (0, 1, 2, 3)):
             self._marker_function = self._set_tuple_marker
-        elif isinstance(marker, np.ndarray):
-            self._marker_function = self._set_vertices
-        elif not isinstance(marker, list) and marker in self.markers:
+        elif (not isinstance(marker, (np.ndarray, list)) and
+              marker in self.markers):
             self._marker_function = getattr(
                 self, '_set_' + self.markers[marker])
         elif is_string_like(marker) and is_math_text(marker):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_marker.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_marker.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e2290f029dcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_marker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import numpy as np
+from matplotlib import markers
+
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_markers_valid():
+    marker_style = markers.MarkerStyle()
+    mrk_array = np.array([[-0.5, 0],
+                          [0.5, 0]])
+    # Checking this doesn't fail.
+    marker_style.set_marker(mrk_array)
+
+
+def test_markers_invalid():
+    marker_style = markers.MarkerStyle()
+    mrk_array = np.array([[-0.5, 0,  1, 2, 3]])
+    # Checking this does fail.
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        marker_style.set_marker(mrk_array)