diff --git a/python/ray/dag/tests/experimental/test_non_compiled_nccl_dag.py b/python/ray/dag/tests/experimental/test_non_compiled_nccl_dag.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..eeb9bf755394
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/ray/dag/tests/experimental/test_non_compiled_nccl_dag.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# coding: utf-8
+import os
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+from ray.experimental.channel.torch_tensor_type import TorchTensorType
+from ray.tests.conftest import *  # noqa
+
+
+def test_non_compiled_nccl_falls_back_to_cpu(ray_start_regular_shared):
+    """
+    Test that TorchTensorType(transport='accelerator') in a non-compiled DAG
+    falls back to CPU/shared-memory transport with a warning.
+    """
+    t = TorchTensorType(transport="accelerator")
+
+    with pytest.warns(
+        UserWarning, match="Falling back to shared-memory \\(CPU\\) transport"
+    ):
+        channel = t.create_channel(
+            writer=None,
+            reader_and_node_list=[],
+        )
+
+    from ray.experimental.channel.shared_memory_channel import CompositeChannel
+
+    assert isinstance(channel, CompositeChannel)
+
+
+def test_non_compiled_custom_communicator_falls_back_to_cpu(ray_start_regular_shared):
+    """
+    Test that TorchTensorType(transport=custom_comm) in a non-compiled DAG
+    falls back to CPU/shared-memory transport with a warning because communicator_id is None.
+    """
+    from ray.experimental.channel.communicator import Communicator
+
+    # Register as virtual subclass of Communicator to satisfy isinstance check
+    # without running into abstract method instantiation TypeErrors.
+    @Communicator.register
+    class DummyCommunicator:
+        def get_transport_name(self) -> str:
+            return "accelerator"
+
+    t = TorchTensorType(transport=DummyCommunicator())
+
+    with pytest.warns(
+        UserWarning, match="Falling back to shared-memory \\(CPU\\) transport"
+    ):
+        channel = t.create_channel(
+            writer=None,
+            reader_and_node_list=[],
+        )
+
+    from ray.experimental.channel.shared_memory_channel import CompositeChannel
+
+    assert isinstance(channel, CompositeChannel)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    if os.environ.get("PARALLEL_CI"):
+        sys.exit(pytest.main(["-n", "auto", "--boxed", "-vs", __file__]))
+    else:
+        sys.exit(pytest.main(["-sv", __file__]))
diff --git a/python/ray/experimental/channel/torch_tensor_type.py b/python/ray/experimental/channel/torch_tensor_type.py
index 21220acf9959..10a6c7013d24 100644
--- a/python/ray/experimental/channel/torch_tensor_type.py
+++ b/python/ray/experimental/channel/torch_tensor_type.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+import warnings
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
 
 import ray
@@ -142,20 +143,36 @@ def create_channel(
         _tensor_metadata_channel: Optional["Channel"] = None,
     ) -> type:
         if self.requires_accelerator():
-            from ray.experimental.channel.torch_tensor_accelerator_channel import (
-                TorchTensorAcceleratorChannel,
-            )
-
-            return TorchTensorAcceleratorChannel(
-                writer,
-                reader_and_node_list,
-                self,
-                driver_actor_id,
-                _tensor_metadata_channel,
-                _cpu_data_channel,
-            )
-
-        # Data does not require accelerator. Transfer via host memory using a
+            # Check if this type hint has been set up by the Compiled Graph
+            # compiler (i.e., communicator_id or communicator is set). If not,
+            # we are in a non-compiled graph context and fall back to the
+            # shared memory channel for debugging purposes.
+            if self._communicator_id is None:
+                warnings.warn(
+                    "TorchTensorType(transport='accelerator') used outside of a "
+                    "Compiled Graph. Falling back to shared-memory (CPU) "
+                    "transport for debugging. Performance will be "
+                    "significantly worse than compiled NCCL.",
+                    UserWarning,
+                    stacklevel=2,
+                )
+                # Fall through to the shared memory path below.
+            else:
+                from ray.experimental.channel.torch_tensor_accelerator_channel import (
+                    TorchTensorAcceleratorChannel,
+                )
+
+                return TorchTensorAcceleratorChannel(
+                    writer,
+                    reader_and_node_list,
+                    self,
+                    driver_actor_id,
+                    _tensor_metadata_channel,
+                    _cpu_data_channel,
+                )
+
+        # Data does not require accelerator, OR we are in a non-compiled graph
+        # context (debugging path). Transfer via host memory using a
         # shared-memory channel.
         # TODO(swang): Allow the initial max buffer size to be overridden.
         typ = SharedMemoryType()