diff --git a/src/diff.jl b/src/diff.jl
index 81ac4e9e2..f9b82b463 100644
--- a/src/diff.jl
+++ b/src/diff.jl
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ julia> D3 = Differential(x)^3 # 3rd order differential operator
 struct Differential <: Operator
     """The variable or expression to differentiate with respect to."""
     x
-    Differential(x) = new(value(x))
+    function Differential(x)
+        vx = value(x)
+        istree(vx) && throw(ArgumentError("Cannot differentiate with respect to $vx"))
+        new(vx)
+    end
 end
 function (D::Differential)(x)
     x = unwrap(x)
diff --git a/test/diff.jl b/test/diff.jl
index 7486a78e7..d78b1712a 100644
--- a/test/diff.jl
+++ b/test/diff.jl
@@ -348,3 +348,14 @@ let
     @test isequal(expand_derivatives(Differential(t)(im*t)), im)
     @test isequal(expand_derivatives(Differential(t)(t^2 + im*t)), 2t + im)
 end
+
+#1077
+#
+let
+    using Symbolics
+    @variables x
+    @test Symbolics.derivative(2x, x) == 2
+    @test_throws ArgumentError Symbolics.derivative(x, 2x)
+    @test_throws ArgumentError Symbolics.derivative(2x, 2x) # though arguably this should be 1
+    @test_throws ArgumentError Symbolics.derivative(x, 0)
+end