diff --git a/src/genai_utils/gemini.py b/src/genai_utils/gemini.py
index 9c17114..63d41e1 100644
--- a/src/genai_utils/gemini.py
+++ b/src/genai_utils/gemini.py
@@ -213,50 +213,57 @@ def add_citations(response: types.GenerateContentResponse) -> str:
     return text
 
 
-def validate_labels(labels: dict[str, str]) -> None:
+def validate_labels(labels: dict[str, str]) -> dict[str, str]:
     """
-    Validates labels for GCP requirements.
+    Validates labels for GCP requirements, removing any labels that would cause GCP to
+    return an error.
 
     GCP label requirements:
     - Keys must start with a lowercase letter
     - Keys and values can only contain lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores
     - Keys and values must be max 63 characters
     - Keys cannot be empty
-
-    Raises:
-        GeminiError: If labels don't meet GCP requirements
     """
     label_pattern = re.compile(r"^[a-z0-9_-]{1,63}$")
     key_start_pattern = re.compile(r"^[a-z]")
 
+    valid_labels: dict[str, str] = {}
     for key, value in labels.items():
         if not key:
-            raise GeminiError("Label keys cannot be empty")
+            _logger.warning("Label keys cannot be empty")
+            continue
 
         if len(key) > 63:
-            raise GeminiError(
+            _logger.warning(
                 f"Label key '{key}' exceeds 63 characters (length: {len(key)})"
             )
+            continue
 
         if len(value) > 63:
-            raise GeminiError(
+            _logger.warning(
                 f"Label value for key '{key}' exceeds 63 characters (length: {len(value)})"
             )
+            continue
 
         if not key_start_pattern.match(key):
-            raise GeminiError(f"Label key '{key}' must start with a lowercase letter")
+            _logger.warning(f"Label key '{key}' must start with a lowercase letter")
+            continue
 
         if not label_pattern.match(key):
-            raise GeminiError(
+            _logger.warning(
                 f"Label key '{key}' contains invalid characters. "
                 "Only lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores are allowed"
             )
+            continue
 
         if not label_pattern.match(value):
-            raise GeminiError(
+            _logger.warning(
                 f"Label value '{value}' for key '{key}' contains invalid characters. "
                 "Only lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores are allowed"
             )
+            continue
+        valid_labels[key] = value
+    return valid_labels
 
 
 def check_grounding_ran(response: types.GenerateContentResponse) -> bool:
@@ -543,8 +550,7 @@ class Movie(BaseModel):
 
     if inline_citations and not use_grounding:
         raise GeminiError("Inline citations only work if `use_grounding = True`")
-    merged_labels = DEFAULT_LABELS | labels
-    validate_labels(merged_labels)
+    merged_labels = validate_labels(DEFAULT_LABELS | labels)
 
     response = await client.aio.models.generate_content(
         model=model_config.model_name,
diff --git a/tests/genai_utils/test_labels.py b/tests/genai_utils/test_labels.py
index 5866dfc..7443551 100644
--- a/tests/genai_utils/test_labels.py
+++ b/tests/genai_utils/test_labels.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 from google.genai.models import Models
 
 from genai_utils.gemini import (
-    GeminiError,
     ModelConfig,
     run_prompt_async,
     validate_labels,
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ async def get_dummy():
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_valid():
-    """Test that valid labels pass validation"""
+    """Test that valid labels pass validation and are returned"""
     valid_labels = {
         "team": "ai",
         "project": "genai-utils",
@@ -32,66 +31,66 @@ def test_validate_labels_valid():
         "version": "1-2-3",
         "my_label": "my_value",
     }
-    # Should not raise any exception
-    validate_labels(valid_labels)
+    result = validate_labels(valid_labels)
+    assert result == valid_labels
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_empty_key():
-    """Test that empty keys are rejected"""
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="cannot be empty"):
-        validate_labels({"": "value"})
+    """Test that empty keys are filtered out"""
+    result = validate_labels({"": "value", "valid": "label"})
+    assert result == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_key_too_long():
-    """Test that keys exceeding 63 characters are rejected"""
+    """Test that keys exceeding 63 characters are filtered out"""
     long_key = "a" * 64
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="exceeds 63 characters"):
-        validate_labels({long_key: "value"})
+    result = validate_labels({long_key: "value", "valid": "label"})
+    assert result == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_value_too_long():
-    """Test that values exceeding 63 characters are rejected"""
+    """Test that values exceeding 63 characters are filtered out"""
     long_value = "a" * 64
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="exceeds 63 characters"):
-        validate_labels({"key": long_value})
+    result = validate_labels({"key": long_value, "valid": "label"})
+    assert result == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_key_starts_with_number():
-    """Test that keys starting with numbers are rejected"""
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="must start with a lowercase letter"):
-        validate_labels({"1key": "value"})
+    """Test that keys starting with numbers are filtered out"""
+    result = validate_labels({"1key": "value", "valid": "label"})
+    assert result == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_key_starts_with_uppercase():
-    """Test that keys starting with uppercase are rejected"""
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="must start with a lowercase letter"):
-        validate_labels({"Key": "value"})
+    """Test that keys starting with uppercase are filtered out"""
+    result = validate_labels({"Key": "value", "valid": "label"})
+    assert result == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "invalid_key", ["key@value", "key.name", "key$", "key with space", "key/name"]
 )
 def test_validate_labels_key_invalid_characters(invalid_key):
-    """Test that keys with invalid characters are rejected"""
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="contains invalid characters"):
-        validate_labels({invalid_key: "value"})
+    """Test that keys with invalid characters are filtered out"""
+    result = validate_labels({invalid_key: "value", "valid": "label"})
+    assert result == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "invalid_value", ["value@", "value.txt", "value$", "value with space", "value/"]
 )
 def test_validate_labels_value_invalid_characters(invalid_value):
-    """Test that values with invalid characters are rejected"""
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="contains invalid characters"):
-        validate_labels({"key": invalid_value})
+    """Test that values with invalid characters are filtered out"""
+    result = validate_labels({"key": invalid_value, "valid": "label"})
+    assert result == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_max_length_valid():
     """Test that keys and values at exactly 63 characters are valid"""
     max_key = "a" * 63
     max_value = "b" * 63
-    # Should not raise any exception
-    validate_labels({max_key: max_value})
+    result = validate_labels({max_key: max_value})
+    assert result == {max_key: max_value}
 
 
 def test_validate_labels_valid_special_chars():
@@ -102,8 +101,8 @@ def test_validate_labels_valid_special_chars():
         "my-key_name": "my-value_123",
         "key123": "value456",
     }
-    # Should not raise any exception
-    validate_labels(valid_labels)
+    result = validate_labels(valid_labels)
+    assert result == valid_labels
 
 
 @patch("genai_utils.gemini.genai.Client")
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ async def test_run_prompt_with_valid_labels(mock_client):
 
 @patch("genai_utils.gemini.genai.Client")
 async def test_run_prompt_with_invalid_labels(mock_client):
-    """Test that run_prompt rejects invalid labels"""
+    """Test that run_prompt filters out invalid labels"""
     client = Mock(Client)
     models = Mock(Models)
     async_client = Mock(AsyncClient)
@@ -147,16 +146,22 @@ async def test_run_prompt_with_invalid_labels(mock_client):
     async_client.models = models
     mock_client.return_value = client
 
-    invalid_labels = {"Invalid": "value"}  # uppercase key
+    invalid_labels = {"Invalid": "value", "valid": "label"}  # uppercase key is invalid
 
-    with pytest.raises(GeminiError, match="must start with a lowercase letter"):
-        await run_prompt_async(
-            "test prompt",
-            labels=invalid_labels,
-            model_config=ModelConfig(
-                project="project", location="location", model_name="model"
-            ),
-        )
+    await run_prompt_async(
+        "test prompt",
+        labels=invalid_labels,
+        model_config=ModelConfig(
+            project="project", location="location", model_name="model"
+        ),
+    )
+
+    # Verify the call was made with only valid labels
+    assert models.generate_content.called
+    call_kwargs = models.generate_content.call_args[1]
+    assert "config" in call_kwargs
+    # The invalid "Invalid" key should be filtered out
+    assert call_kwargs["config"].labels == {"valid": "label"}
 
 
 @patch("genai_utils.gemini.genai.Client")