diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/configs.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/configs.ts
index e8a2e8d387..31eb3e62b9 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/configs.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/configs.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 import type { TSESLint } from '@typescript-eslint/utils';
 import { integerDivision } from './rules/integerDivision.ts';
 import { unwrappedPojos } from './rules/unwrappedPojos.ts';
+import { invalidAssignment } from './rules/invalidAssignment.ts';
 
 export const rules = {
   'integer-division': integerDivision,
   'unwrapped-pojo': unwrappedPojos,
+  'invalid-assignment': invalidAssignment,
 } as const;
 
 type Rules = Record<
@@ -15,9 +17,11 @@ type Rules = Record<
 export const recommendedRules: Rules = {
   'typegpu/integer-division': 'warn',
   'typegpu/unwrapped-pojo': 'warn',
+  'typegpu/invalid-assignment': 'warn',
 };
 
 export const allRules: Rules = {
   'typegpu/integer-division': 'error',
   'typegpu/unwrapped-pojo': 'error',
+  'typegpu/invalid-assignment': 'error',
 };
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/enhancers/directiveTracking.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/enhancers/directiveTracking.ts
index d8efde55d0..b490760afb 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/enhancers/directiveTracking.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/enhancers/directiveTracking.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,13 @@ import type { TSESTree } from '@typescript-eslint/utils';
 import type { RuleListener } from '@typescript-eslint/utils/ts-eslint';
 import type { RuleEnhancer } from '../enhanceRule.ts';
 
+export type FunctionNode =
+  | TSESTree.FunctionDeclaration
+  | TSESTree.FunctionExpression
+  | TSESTree.ArrowFunctionExpression;
+
 export type DirectiveData = {
-  insideUseGpu: () => boolean;
+  getEnclosingTypegpuFunction: () => FunctionNode | undefined;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -16,17 +21,17 @@ export type DirectiveData = {
  * - top level directives.
  */
 export const directiveTracking: RuleEnhancer<DirectiveData> = () => {
-  const stack: string[][] = [];
+  const stack: { node: FunctionNode; directives: string[] }[] = [];
 
   const visitors: RuleListener = {
     FunctionDeclaration(node) {
-      stack.push(getDirectives(node));
+      stack.push({ node, directives: getDirectives(node) });
     },
     FunctionExpression(node) {
-      stack.push(getDirectives(node));
+      stack.push({ node, directives: getDirectives(node) });
     },
     ArrowFunctionExpression(node) {
-      stack.push(getDirectives(node));
+      stack.push({ node, directives: getDirectives(node) });
     },
 
     'FunctionDeclaration:exit'() {
@@ -42,7 +47,15 @@ export const directiveTracking: RuleEnhancer<DirectiveData> = () => {
 
   return {
     visitors,
-    state: { insideUseGpu: () => (stack.at(-1) ?? []).includes('use gpu') },
+    state: {
+      getEnclosingTypegpuFunction: () => {
+        const current = stack.at(-1);
+        if (current && current.directives.includes('use gpu')) {
+          return current.node;
+        }
+        return undefined;
+      },
+    },
   };
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/invalidAssignment.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/invalidAssignment.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..947da9ebdd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/invalidAssignment.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import { ASTUtils, type TSESTree } from '@typescript-eslint/utils';
+import { createRule } from '../ruleCreator.ts';
+import { enhanceRule } from '../enhanceRule.ts';
+import { directiveTracking } from '../enhancers/directiveTracking.ts';
+import type { RuleContext } from '@typescript-eslint/utils/ts-eslint';
+
+export const invalidAssignment = createRule({
+  name: 'invalid-assignment',
+  meta: {
+    type: 'problem',
+    docs: {
+      description: `Avoid assignments that will not generate valid WGSL.`,
+    },
+    messages: {
+      parameterAssignment:
+        "Cannot assign to '{{snippet}}' since WGSL parameters are immutable. If you're using d.ref, please either use '.$' or disable this rule.",
+      jsAssignment:
+        "Cannot assign to '{{snippet}}' since it is a JS variable defined outside of the current TypeGPU function's scope. Use buffers, workgroup variables or local variables instead.",
+    },
+    schema: [],
+  },
+  defaultOptions: [],
+
+  create: enhanceRule({ directives: directiveTracking }, (context, state) => {
+    const { directives } = state;
+
+    return {
+      UpdateExpression(node) {
+        const enclosingFn = directives.getEnclosingTypegpuFunction();
+        validateAssignment(context, node, enclosingFn, node.argument);
+      },
+
+      AssignmentExpression(node) {
+        const enclosingFn = directives.getEnclosingTypegpuFunction();
+        validateAssignment(context, node, enclosingFn, node.left);
+      },
+    };
+  }),
+});
+
+function validateAssignment(
+  context: Readonly<RuleContext<'parameterAssignment' | 'jsAssignment', []>>,
+  node: TSESTree.Node,
+  enclosingFn: TSESTree.Node | undefined,
+  leftNode: TSESTree.Node,
+) {
+  if (!enclosingFn) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // follow the member expression chain
+  let assignee = leftNode;
+  while (assignee.type === 'MemberExpression') {
+    if (
+      assignee.property.type === 'Identifier' &&
+      assignee.property.name === '$'
+    ) {
+      // a dollar was used so we assume this assignment is fine
+      return;
+    }
+    assignee = assignee.object;
+  }
+  if (assignee.type !== 'Identifier') {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // look for a scope that defines the variable
+  const variable = ASTUtils.findVariable(
+    context.sourceCode.getScope(assignee),
+    assignee,
+  );
+  // defs is an array because there may be multiple definitions with `var`
+  const def = variable?.defs[0];
+
+  // check if variable is global or was defined outside of current function by checking ranges
+  // NOTE: if the variable is an outer function parameter, then the enclosingFn range will be encompassed by node range
+  if (
+    !def ||
+    def && (
+        def.node.range[0] < enclosingFn.range[0] ||
+        enclosingFn.range[1] < def.node.range[1]
+      )
+  ) {
+    context.report({
+      messageId: 'jsAssignment',
+      node,
+      data: { snippet: context.sourceCode.getText(leftNode) },
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (def.type === 'Parameter') {
+    context.report({
+      messageId: 'parameterAssignment',
+      node,
+      data: { snippet: context.sourceCode.getText(leftNode) },
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/unwrappedPojos.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/unwrappedPojos.ts
index babe1a3f8b..f2d6900076 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/unwrappedPojos.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/rules/unwrappedPojos.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export const unwrappedPojos = createRule({
 
     return {
       ObjectExpression(node) {
-        if (!directives.insideUseGpu()) {
+        if (!directives.getEnclosingTypegpuFunction()) {
           return;
         }
         if (node.parent?.type === 'Property') {
diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/tests/invalidAssignment.test.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/tests/invalidAssignment.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..abe4db1805
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/tests/invalidAssignment.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+import { describe } from 'vitest';
+import { ruleTester } from './ruleTester.ts';
+import { invalidAssignment } from '../src/rules/invalidAssignment.ts';
+
+describe('invalidAssignment', () => {
+  ruleTester.run('parameterAssignment', invalidAssignment, {
+    valid: [
+      // not inside 'use gpu' function
+      'const fn = (a) => { a = {}; }',
+      'const fn = (a) => { a.prop = 1; }',
+      "const fn = (a) => { a['prop'] = 1; }",
+      'const fn = (a) => { a[0] = 1; }',
+
+      // not using parameter
+      "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; let b = 0; b = 1; }",
+      "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; { let a = 1; a = 2; } }",
+
+      // correctly accessed
+      "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a.$ = 1 }",
+      "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a.$++; }",
+      "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a.$ += 1; }",
+    ],
+    invalid: [
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a = 1; }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "let a; const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a = 1; }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a.prop = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'parameterAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a.prop' },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a['prop'] = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'parameterAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: "a['prop']" },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a[0] = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'parameterAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a[0]' },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a++; }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a += 1; }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a.prop1.prop2 = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'parameterAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a.prop1.prop2' },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; if (true) { a = 1; } }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a = 1; { let a; } }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a, b) => { 'use gpu'; a = 1; b = 2; }",
+        errors: [
+          { messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } },
+          { messageId: 'parameterAssignment', data: { snippet: 'b' } },
+        ],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = (a) => { 'use gpu'; a.$prop = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'parameterAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a.$prop' },
+        }],
+      },
+    ],
+  });
+
+  ruleTester.run('jsAssignment', invalidAssignment, {
+    valid: [
+      // not inside 'use gpu' function
+      'let a; const fn = () => { a = 1 }',
+      'const outer = (a) => { const fn = () => { a = 1 } }',
+      'const vars = []; const fn = () => { vars[0] = 1 }',
+
+      // correctly accessed
+      "const buffer = {}; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; buffer.$ = 1 }",
+      "const outer = (buffer) => { const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; buffer.$ = 1 } }",
+      "const buffers = []; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; buffers[0].$ = 1 }",
+    ],
+    invalid: [
+      {
+        code: "let a; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a = 1 }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "var a; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a = 1 }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const outer = (a) => { const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a = 1 } }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const a = {}; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a.prop = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'jsAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a.prop' },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const a = {}; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a['prop'] = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'jsAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: "a['prop']" },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const a = []; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a[0] = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'jsAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a[0]' },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const vars = []; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; vars[0] = 1 }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'vars[0]' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a += 1; }; let a;",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "let a; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a++; }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "let a; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a += 1; }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code:
+          "const a = {}; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a.prop1.prop2 = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'jsAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a.prop1.prop2' },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "let a; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; if (true) { a = 1; } }",
+        errors: [{ messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "let a, b; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a = 1; b = 2; }",
+        errors: [
+          { messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'a' } },
+          { messageId: 'jsAssignment', data: { snippet: 'b' } },
+        ],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const a = {}; const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; a.$prop = 1; }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'jsAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'a.$prop' },
+        }],
+      },
+      {
+        code: "const fn = () => { 'use gpu'; globalThis.prop = 1 }",
+        errors: [{
+          messageId: 'jsAssignment',
+          data: { snippet: 'globalThis.prop' },
+        }],
+      },
+    ],
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/typegpu/tests/ref.test.ts b/packages/typegpu/tests/ref.test.ts
index 1470936a17..36a9db3acd 100644
--- a/packages/typegpu/tests/ref.test.ts
+++ b/packages/typegpu/tests/ref.test.ts
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ describe('d.ref', () => {
 
     const clearPosition = (entity: d.ref<Entity>) => {
       'use gpu';
-      entity.pos = d.vec3f();
+      entity.$.pos = d.vec3f();
     };
 
     const main = () => {
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ describe('d.ref', () => {
   it('allows updating a vector component from another function', () => {
     const clearX = (pos: d.ref<d.v3f>) => {
       'use gpu';
-      pos.x = 0;
+      pos.$.x = 0;
     };
 
     const main = () => {
diff --git a/packages/typegpu/tests/tgsl/argumentOrigin.test.ts b/packages/typegpu/tests/tgsl/argumentOrigin.test.ts
index ed2ad8494a..e56a9d3972 100644
--- a/packages/typegpu/tests/tgsl/argumentOrigin.test.ts
+++ b/packages/typegpu/tests/tgsl/argumentOrigin.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ describe('function argument origin tracking', () => {
   it('should fail on mutation of primitive arguments', () => {
     const foo = (a: number) => {
       'use gpu';
+      // oxlint-disable-next-line typegpu/invalid-assignment -- this is a test
       a += 1;
     };
 
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ describe('function argument origin tracking', () => {
 
     const foo = ({ a }: { a: number }) => {
       'use gpu';
+      // oxlint-disable-next-line typegpu/invalid-assignment -- this is a test
       a += 1;
     };
 
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ describe('function argument origin tracking', () => {
   it('should fail on mutation of non-primitive arguments', () => {
     const foo = (a: d.v3f) => {
       'use gpu';
+      // oxlint-disable-next-line typegpu/invalid-assignment -- this is a test
       a.x += 1;
     };