diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py b/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
index 93acdc213ea..b3131435fec 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from pygmt._typing import PathLike
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
-from pygmt.exceptions import GMTInvalidInput, GMTParameterError
+from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError
 from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, use_alias
 
 __doctest_skip__ = ["grdgradient"]
@@ -54,12 +54,13 @@ def _alias_option_N(  # noqa: N802
             v is not None and v is not False
             for v in [norm_amp, norm_ambient, norm_sigma, norm_offset]
         ):
-            msg = (
-                "Parameter 'normalize' using old syntax with raw GMT CLI string "
-                "conflicts with parameters 'norm_amp', 'norm_ambient', 'norm_sigma', "
-                "or 'norm_offset'."
+            raise GMTParameterError(
+                conflicts_with=(
+                    "normalize",
+                    ["norm_amp", "norm_ambient", "norm_sigma", "norm_offset"],
+                ),
+                reason="'normalize' is specified using the unrecommended GMT command string syntax.",
             )
-            raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
         _normalize_mapping = None
 
     return [
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_grdgradient.py b/pygmt/tests/test_grdgradient.py
index e5d9616a3fb..cf8f64fa987 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_grdgradient.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_grdgradient.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import xarray as xr
 from pygmt import grdgradient
 from pygmt.enums import GridRegistration, GridType
-from pygmt.exceptions import GMTInvalidInput, GMTParameterError
+from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError
 from pygmt.helpers import GMTTempFile
 from pygmt.helpers.testing import load_static_earth_relief
 
@@ -75,17 +75,17 @@ def test_grdgradient_no_outgrid(grid, expected_grid):
 
 def test_grdgradient_normalize_mixed_syntax(grid):
     """
-    Test that mixed syntax for normalize in grdgradient raises GMTInvalidInput.
+    Test that mixed syntax for normalize in grdgradient raises GMTParameterError.
     """
-    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+    with pytest.raises(GMTParameterError):
         grdgradient(grid=grid, azimuth=10, normalize="t", norm_amp=2)
-    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+    with pytest.raises(GMTParameterError):
         grdgradient(grid=grid, azimuth=10, normalize="t1", norm_amp=2)
-    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+    with pytest.raises(GMTParameterError):
         grdgradient(grid=grid, azimuth=10, normalize="t1", norm_sigma=2)
-    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+    with pytest.raises(GMTParameterError):
         grdgradient(grid=grid, azimuth=10, normalize="e", norm_offset=5)
-    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+    with pytest.raises(GMTParameterError):
         grdgradient(grid=grid, azimuth=10, normalize="e", norm_ambient=0.1)