diff --git a/jax/_src/ad_checkpoint.py b/jax/_src/ad_checkpoint.py
index 93376c7bd170..3a81ecc85af9 100644
--- a/jax/_src/ad_checkpoint.py
+++ b/jax/_src/ad_checkpoint.py
@@ -142,8 +142,14 @@ def policy(prim, *_, **params):
 def save_from_both_policies(policy_1, policy_2):
 
   def policy(prim, *args, **params):
-    return policy_1(prim, *args, **params) or policy_2(prim, *args, **params)
-
+    out1 = policy_1(prim, *args, **params)
+    out2 = policy_2(prim, *args, **params)
+    if not (isinstance(out1, bool) and isinstance(out2, bool)):
+      raise ValueError(
+          "The return value of the policies should be a boolean. Got:"
+          f" {out1} and {out2}. Please write a custom policy function directly,"
+          " rather than using this helper function.")
+    return out1 or out2
   return policy