diff --git a/tests/test_bounds.py b/tests/test_bounds.py
index 1be43f5c..52a95d68 100644
--- a/tests/test_bounds.py
+++ b/tests/test_bounds.py
@@ -65,6 +65,21 @@ def test_adds_bounds_to_the_dataset(self):
         result = ds.bounds.add_missing_bounds()
         assert result.identical(self.ds_with_bnds)
 
+    def test_adds_bounds_to_the_dataset_skips_nondimensional_axes(self):
+        # generate dataset with height coordinate
+        ds = generate_dataset(cf_compliant=True, has_bounds=True)
+        ds = ds.assign_coords({"height": 2})
+
+        # drop bounds
+        dsm = ds.drop_vars(["lat_bnds", "lon_bnds"]).copy()
+
+        # test bounds re-generation
+        result = dsm.bounds.add_missing_bounds()
+
+        # dataset with missing bounds added should match dataset with bounds
+        # and added height coordinate
+        assert result.identical(ds)
+
 
 class TestGetBounds:
     @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
diff --git a/xcdat/bounds.py b/xcdat/bounds.py
index 6d3bf44b..b9a50537 100644
--- a/xcdat/bounds.py
+++ b/xcdat/bounds.py
@@ -140,6 +140,12 @@ def add_missing_bounds(self, width: float = 0.5) -> xr.Dataset:
             except KeyError:
                 pass
 
+            # determine if the axis is also a dimension by determining
+            # if there is overlap between the CF axis names and the dimension
+            # names. If not, skip over axis for validation.
+            if len(set(CF_NAME_MAP[axis]) & set(self._dataset.dims.keys())) == 0:
+                continue
+
             if coord_var is not None:
                 try:
                     self.get_bounds(axis)