diff --git a/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlow.java b/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlow.java
index 680480660..c14a615c7 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlow.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlow.java
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ import org.joda.time.Duration;
  * @error {@link DomainFlowUtils.UnexpectedClaimsNoticeException}
  * @error {@link DomainFlowUtils.UnsupportedFeeAttributeException}
  * @error {@link DomainFlowUtils.UnsupportedMarkTypeException}
+ * @error {@link DomainPricingLogic.AllocationTokenInvalidForPremiumNameException}
  */
 @ReportingSpec(ActivityReportField.DOMAIN_CREATE)
 public class DomainCreateFlow implements TransactionalFlow {
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainPricingLogic.java b/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainPricingLogic.java
index d20f2608f..22219c1a6 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainPricingLogic.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainPricingLogic.java
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
 
 package google.registry.flows.domain;
 
-import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
 import static google.registry.pricing.PricingEngineProxy.getDomainFeeClass;
 import static google.registry.pricing.PricingEngineProxy.getDomainRenewCost;
 
 import com.google.common.net.InternetDomainName;
 import google.registry.flows.EppException;
+import google.registry.flows.EppException.CommandUseErrorException;
 import google.registry.flows.FlowScope;
 import google.registry.flows.custom.DomainPricingCustomLogic;
 import google.registry.flows.custom.DomainPricingCustomLogic.CreatePriceParameters;
@@ -182,13 +182,14 @@ public final class DomainPricingLogic {
   }
 
   private Money getDomainCreateCostWithDiscount(
-      String domainName, DateTime date, int years, Optional<AllocationToken> allocationToken) {
+      String domainName, DateTime date, int years, Optional<AllocationToken> allocationToken)
+      throws EppException {
     DomainPrices domainPrices = PricingEngineProxy.getPricesForDomainName(domainName, date);
-    checkArgument(
-        !allocationToken.isPresent()
-            || allocationToken.get().getDiscountFraction() == 0.0
-            || !domainPrices.isPremium(),
-        "A nonzero discount code cannot be applied to premium domains");
+    if (allocationToken.isPresent()
+        && allocationToken.get().getDiscountFraction() != 0.0
+        && domainPrices.isPremium()) {
+      throw new AllocationTokenInvalidForPremiumNameException();
+    }
     Money oneYearCreateCost = domainPrices.getCreateCost();
     Money totalDomainCreateCost = oneYearCreateCost.multipliedBy(years);
     // If a discount is applicable, apply it only to the first year
@@ -200,4 +201,12 @@ public final class DomainPricingLogic {
     }
     return totalDomainCreateCost;
   }
+
+  /** An allocation token was provided that is invalid for premium domains. */
+  public static class AllocationTokenInvalidForPremiumNameException
+      extends CommandUseErrorException {
+    public AllocationTokenInvalidForPremiumNameException() {
+      super("A nonzero discount code cannot be applied to premium domains");
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlowTest.java b/core/src/test/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlowTest.java
index b313512d5..8f5b8e9d3 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlowTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/google/registry/flows/domain/DomainCreateFlowTest.java
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ import google.registry.flows.domain.DomainFlowUtils.TrailingDashException;
 import google.registry.flows.domain.DomainFlowUtils.UnexpectedClaimsNoticeException;
 import google.registry.flows.domain.DomainFlowUtils.UnsupportedFeeAttributeException;
 import google.registry.flows.domain.DomainFlowUtils.UnsupportedMarkTypeException;
+import google.registry.flows.domain.DomainPricingLogic.AllocationTokenInvalidForPremiumNameException;
 import google.registry.flows.domain.token.AllocationTokenFlowUtils.AllocationTokenNotInPromotionException;
 import google.registry.flows.domain.token.AllocationTokenFlowUtils.AllocationTokenNotValidForRegistrarException;
 import google.registry.flows.domain.token.AllocationTokenFlowUtils.AllocationTokenNotValidForTldException;
@@ -1227,9 +1228,9 @@ public class DomainCreateFlowTest extends ResourceFlowTestCase<DomainCreateFlow,
             .build());
     clock.advanceOneMilli();
     setEppInput("domain_create_premium_allocationtoken.xml");
-    assertThat(assertThrows(IllegalArgumentException.class, this::runFlow))
-        .hasMessageThat()
-        .isEqualTo("A nonzero discount code cannot be applied to premium domains");
+    assertAboutEppExceptions()
+        .that(assertThrows(AllocationTokenInvalidForPremiumNameException.class, this::runFlow))
+        .marshalsToXml();
   }
 
   @Test
diff --git a/docs/flows.md b/docs/flows.md
index 547cc597f..02b680492 100644
--- a/docs/flows.md
+++ b/docs/flows.md
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ An EPP flow that creates a new domain resource.
     *   The current registry phase allows registrations only with signed marks.
     *   The current registry phase does not allow for general registrations.
     *   Signed marks are only allowed during sunrise.
+    *   An allocation token was provided that is invalid for premium domains.
 *   2003
     *   The provided mark does not match the desired domain label.
     *   Fees must be explicitly acknowledged when creating domains during the