diff --git a/simpeg_drivers/joint/joint_surveys/options.py b/simpeg_drivers/joint/joint_surveys/options.py
index ac06aa3b..037c9ab2 100644
--- a/simpeg_drivers/joint/joint_surveys/options.py
+++ b/simpeg_drivers/joint/joint_surveys/options.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class JointSurveysOptions(BaseJointOptions):
     def all_groups_same_physical_property(self):
         physical_properties = [k.options["physical_property"] for k in self.groups]
         if len(list(set(physical_properties))) > 1:
-            raise GeoAppsError(
+            raise ValueError(
                 "All physical properties must be the same. "
                 f"Provided SimPEG groups for {physical_properties}."
             )
diff --git a/simpeg_drivers/options.py b/simpeg_drivers/options.py
index ad91e7ce..93554e9e 100644
--- a/simpeg_drivers/options.py
+++ b/simpeg_drivers/options.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class ActiveCellsOptions(BaseModel):
     @classmethod
     def at_least_one(cls, data):
         if all(v is None for v in data.values()):
-            raise GeoAppsError("Must provide either topography or active model.")
+            raise ValueError("Must provide either topography or active model.")
         return data
 
     @model_serializer(mode="wrap")
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def _component_name(self, component: str) -> str:
     @classmethod
     def mesh_cannot_be_rotated(cls, value: Octree):
         if isinstance(value, Octree) and value.rotation not in [0.0, None]:
-            raise GeoAppsError(
+            raise ValueError(
                 "Rotated meshes are not supported. Please use a mesh with an angle of 0.0."
             )
         return value
@@ -491,13 +491,13 @@ class LineSelectionOptions(BaseModel):
     @classmethod
     def validate_cell_association(cls, value):
         if value.association is not DataAssociationEnum.CELL:
-            raise GeoAppsError("Line identifier must be associated with cells.")
+            raise ValueError("Line identifier must be associated with cells.")
         return value
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def line_id_referenced(self):
         if self.line_id not in self.line_object.values:
-            raise GeoAppsError("Line id isn't referenced in the line object.")
+            raise ValueError("Line id isn't referenced in the line object.")
         return self
 
 
diff --git a/tests/validations_test.py b/tests/validations_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c01beeae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/validations_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+#  Copyright (c) 2025 Mira Geoscience Ltd.                                          '
+#                                                                                   '
+#  This file is part of simpeg-drivers package.                                     '
+#                                                                                   '
+#  simpeg-drivers is distributed under the terms and conditions of the MIT License  '
+#  (see LICENSE file at the root of this source code package).                      '
+#                                                                                   '
+# '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+import pytest
+from geoapps_utils.utils.importing import GeoAppsError
+from geoh5py import Workspace
+
+from simpeg_drivers.options import CoreOptions
+
+
+def test_topo_or_active_validation(tmp_path):
+    with Workspace(tmp_path / "test.geoh5") as workspace:
+        data = {
+            "geoh5": workspace,
+            "inversion_type": "mvi",
+        }
+    with pytest.raises(GeoAppsError, match="active_cells: Value error, Must"):
+        CoreOptions.build(data)