diff --git a/src/panfrost/compiler/bifrost/valhall/va_pack.c b/src/panfrost/compiler/bifrost/valhall/va_pack.c
index 0790005e49a..72bcab9607c 100644
--- a/src/panfrost/compiler/bifrost/valhall/va_pack.c
+++ b/src/panfrost/compiler/bifrost/valhall/va_pack.c
@@ -1043,8 +1043,11 @@ va_pack_instr(const bi_instr *I, unsigned arch)
          hex |= (1ull << 46);
 
       if (I->op == BI_OPCODE_TEX_GRADIENT) {
-         if (I->force_delta_enable)
+         if (I->force_delta_enable) {
+            if (arch < 10)
+               invalid_instruction(I, "gradient instruction does not support .force_delta_enable");
             hex |= (1ull << 12);
+         }
          if (I->lod_bias_disable)
             hex |= (1ull << 13);
          if (I->lod_clamp_disable)