diff --git a/samcli/commands/validate/lib/exceptions.py b/samcli/commands/validate/lib/exceptions.py
index 96aa3f6008..0348f223da 100644
--- a/samcli/commands/validate/lib/exceptions.py
+++ b/samcli/commands/validate/lib/exceptions.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 Custom Exceptions for 'sam validate' commands
 """
 
+from samcli.commands.exceptions import UserException
 
-class InvalidSamDocumentException(Exception):
+
+class InvalidSamDocumentException(UserException):
     """
     Exception for Invalid Sam Documents
     """
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/list/resources/test_resources_context.py b/tests/unit/commands/list/resources/test_resources_context.py
index 298aef8d53..02e001a370 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/list/resources/test_resources_context.py
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/list/resources/test_resources_context.py
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ def test_get_translate_dict_invalid_template_error(
                 }
             },
         }
-        mock_get_translated_template_if_valid.side_effect = InvalidSamDocumentException()
+        mock_get_translated_template_if_valid.side_effect = InvalidSamDocumentException("")
         with self.assertRaises(InvalidSamTemplateException):
             resource_producer = ResourceMappingProducer(
                 stack_name=None,
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/validate/test_cli.py b/tests/unit/commands/validate/test_cli.py
index c19f5d0377..762a24ffa2 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/validate/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/validate/test_cli.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def test_template_fails_validation(self, patched_boto, read_sam_file_patch, clic
         read_sam_file_patch.return_value = {"a": "b"}
 
         get_translated_template_if_valid_mock = Mock()
-        get_translated_template_if_valid_mock.get_translated_template_if_valid.side_effect = InvalidSamDocumentException
+        get_translated_template_if_valid_mock.get_translated_template_if_valid.side_effect = InvalidSamDocumentException("")
         template_valiadator.return_value = get_translated_template_if_valid_mock
 
         with self.assertRaises(InvalidSamTemplateException):