diff --git a/litellm/llms/vertex_httpx.py b/litellm/llms/vertex_httpx.py
index b5f460954..7676744e8 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/vertex_httpx.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/vertex_httpx.py
@@ -394,16 +394,19 @@ class VertexGeminiConfig:
                 google_search_tool: Optional[dict] = None
                 for tool in value:
                     # check if grounding
-                    _search_tool = tool.get("googleSearchRetrieval", None)
-                    if google_search_tool is not None:
-                        google_search_tool = _search_tool
-                    else:
+                    try:
                         gtool_func_declaration = FunctionDeclaration(
                             name=tool["function"]["name"],
                             description=tool["function"].get("description", ""),
                             parameters=tool["function"].get("parameters", {}),
                         )
                         gtool_func_declarations.append(gtool_func_declaration)
+                    except KeyError:
+                        # assume it's a provider-specific param
+                        verbose_logger.warning(
+                            "Got KeyError parsing tool={}. Assuming it's a provider-specific param. Use `litellm.set_verbose` or `litellm --detailed_debug` to see raw request."
+                        )
+                        google_search_tool = tool
                 _tools = Tools(function_declarations=gtool_func_declarations)
                 if google_search_tool is not None:
                     _tools["googleSearchRetrieval"] = google_search_tool
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py b/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py
index 746527594..211f093d9 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_amazing_vertex_completion.py
@@ -682,18 +682,6 @@ def test_gemini_pro_grounding():
         load_vertex_ai_credentials()
         litellm.set_verbose = True
 
-        messages = [
-            {
-                "role": "system",
-                "content": "Your name is Litellm Bot, you are a helpful assistant",
-            },
-            # User asks for their name and weather in San Francisco
-            {
-                "role": "user",
-                "content": "Hello, what is your name and can you tell me the weather?",
-            },
-        ]
-
         tools = [{"googleSearchRetrieval": {}}]
 
         litellm.set_verbose = True
@@ -710,8 +698,8 @@ def test_gemini_pro_grounding():
                     tools=tools,
                     client=client,
                 )
-            except Exception:
-                pass
+            except Exception as e:
+                print("Received Exception - {}".format(str(e)))
 
             mock_call.assert_called_once()