diff --git a/crates/fj-kernel/src/objects/face.rs b/crates/fj-kernel/src/objects/face.rs
index 82803390b..0296392e3 100644
--- a/crates/fj-kernel/src/objects/face.rs
+++ b/crates/fj-kernel/src/objects/face.rs
@@ -63,15 +63,9 @@ impl Face {
         the_interiors: impl IntoIterator<Item = Handle<Cycle>>,
         color: Color,
     ) -> Self {
-        let surface = exterior.surface();
         let mut interiors = Vec::new();
 
         for interior in the_interiors.into_iter() {
-            assert_eq!(
-                surface.id(),
-                interior.surface().id(),
-                "Cycles that bound a face must be in face's surface"
-            );
             assert_ne!(
                 exterior.winding(),
                 interior.winding(),
diff --git a/crates/fj-kernel/src/validate/face.rs b/crates/fj-kernel/src/validate/face.rs
index a740f4e18..29a6c0da3 100644
--- a/crates/fj-kernel/src/validate/face.rs
+++ b/crates/fj-kernel/src/validate/face.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-use crate::objects::Face;
+use crate::{
+    objects::{Cycle, Face, Surface},
+    storage::Handle,
+};
 
 use super::{Validate2, ValidationConfig};
 
@@ -9,10 +12,84 @@ impl Validate2 for Face {
         &self,
         _: &ValidationConfig,
     ) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+        FaceValidationError::check_surface_identity(self)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 }
 
 /// [`Face`] validation error
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
-pub enum FaceValidationError {}
+pub enum FaceValidationError {
+    /// [`Surface`] of an interior [`Cycle`] doesn't match [`Face`]'s `Surface`
+    #[error(
+        "`Surface` of an interior `Cycle` doesn't match `Face`'s `Surface`\n\
+        - `Surface` of the `Face`: {surface:#?}\n\
+        - Invalid interior `Cycle`: {interior:#?}\n\
+        - `Face`: {face:#?}"
+    )]
+    SurfaceMismatch {
+        /// The surface of the [`Face`]
+        surface: Handle<Surface>,
+
+        /// The invalid interior cycle of the [`Face`]
+        interior: Handle<Cycle>,
+
+        /// The face
+        face: Face,
+    },
+}
+
+impl FaceValidationError {
+    fn check_surface_identity(face: &Face) -> Result<(), Self> {
+        let surface = face.surface();
+
+        for interior in face.interiors() {
+            if surface.id() != interior.surface().id() {
+                return Err(Self::SurfaceMismatch {
+                    surface: surface.clone(),
+                    interior: interior.clone(),
+                    face: face.clone(),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use crate::{
+        builder::CycleBuilder,
+        objects::{Cycle, Face, Objects},
+        partial::HasPartial,
+        validate::Validate2,
+    };
+
+    #[test]
+    fn face_surface_mismatch() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let objects = Objects::new();
+
+        let valid = Face::builder(&objects)
+            .with_surface(objects.surfaces.xy_plane())
+            .with_exterior_polygon_from_points([[0., 0.], [3., 0.], [0., 3.]])
+            .with_interior_polygon_from_points([[1., 1.], [1., 2.], [2., 1.]])
+            .build();
+        let invalid = {
+            let interiors = [Cycle::partial()
+                .with_poly_chain_from_points(
+                    objects.surfaces.xz_plane(),
+                    [[1., 1.], [1., 2.], [2., 1.]],
+                )
+                .close_with_line_segment()
+                .build(&objects)?];
+
+            Face::new(valid.exterior().clone(), interiors, valid.color())
+        };
+
+        assert!(valid.validate().is_ok());
+        assert!(invalid.validate().is_err());
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}