diff --git a/pygmt/src/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index e1783cebc78..2cde7480d19 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/text.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/text.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 from pygmt.helpers import (
     build_arg_string,
     data_kind,
-    dummy_context,
     fmt_docstring,
     is_nonstr_iter,
     kwargs_to_strings,
@@ -164,24 +163,27 @@ def text_(
         for texts, but this option is only valid if using x/y/text.
     {w}
     """
-
-    # pylint: disable=too-many-locals
     # pylint: disable=too-many-branches
-
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)  # pylint: disable=protected-access
 
     # Ensure inputs are either textfiles, x/y/text, or position/text
     if position is None:
+        if (x is not None or y is not None) and textfiles is not None:
+            raise GMTInvalidInput(
+                "Provide either position only, or x/y pairs, or textfiles."
+            )
         kind = data_kind(textfiles, x, y, text)
+        if kind == "vectors" and text is None:
+            raise GMTInvalidInput("Must provide text with x/y pairs")
     else:
-        if x is not None or y is not None:
+        if x is not None or y is not None or textfiles is not None:
             raise GMTInvalidInput(
-                "Provide either position only, or x/y pairs, not both"
+                "Provide either position only, or x/y pairs, or textfiles."
             )
-        kind = "vectors"
-
-    if kind == "vectors" and text is None:
-        raise GMTInvalidInput("Must provide text with x/y pairs or position")
+        if text is None or is_nonstr_iter(text):
+            raise GMTInvalidInput("Text can't be None or array.")
+        kind = None
+        textfiles = ""
 
     # Build the -F option in gmt text.
     if kwargs.get("F") is None and (
@@ -219,18 +221,13 @@ def text_(
         extra_arrays.append(kwargs["t"])
         kwargs["t"] = ""
 
+    # Append text at last column. Text must be passed in as str type.
+    if kind == "vectors":
+        extra_arrays.append(np.atleast_1d(text).astype(str))
+
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = dummy_context(textfiles) if kind == "file" else ""
-        if kind == "vectors":
-            if position is not None:
-                file_context = dummy_context("")
-            else:
-                file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_vectors(
-                    np.atleast_1d(x),
-                    np.atleast_1d(y),
-                    *extra_arrays,
-                    # text must be in str type, see issue #706
-                    np.atleast_1d(text).astype(str),
-                )
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            check_kind="vector", data=textfiles, x=x, y=y, extra_arrays=extra_arrays
+        )
         with file_context as fname:
             lib.call_module(module="text", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=fname))
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_text.py b/pygmt/tests/test_text.py
index c160b8214d2..f725c768f2d 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_text.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_text.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-# pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
 """
 Tests text.
 """
@@ -15,16 +14,16 @@
 CITIES_DATA = os.path.join(TEST_DATA_DIR, "cities.txt")
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def projection():
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module", name="projection")
+def fixture_projection():
     """
     The projection system.
     """
     return "x10c"
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
-def region():
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module", name="region")
+def fixture_region():
     """
     The data region.
     """
@@ -124,15 +123,25 @@ def test_text_position(region):
     return fig
 
 
-def test_text_xy_with_position_fails(region):
+def test_text_invalid_inputs(region):
     """
-    Run text by providing both x/y pairs and position arguments.
+    Run text by providing invalid combinations of inputs.
     """
     fig = Figure()
     with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
         fig.text(
             region=region, projection="x1c", x=1.2, y=2.4, position="MC", text="text"
         )
+    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+        fig.text(region=region, projection="x1c", textfiles="file.txt", text="text")
+    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+        fig.text(region=region, projection="x1c", position="MC", text=None)
+    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+        fig.text(
+            region=region, projection="x1c", position="MC", text=["text1", "text2"]
+        )
+    with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
+        fig.text(region=region, projection="x1c", textfiles="file.txt", x=1.2, y=2.4)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.mpl_image_compare
@@ -313,10 +322,8 @@ def test_text_transparency():
     text = [f"TEXT-{i}-{j}" for i, j in zip(x, y)]
 
     fig = Figure()
-
     fig.basemap(region=[0, 10, 10, 20], projection="X10c", frame=True)
     fig.text(x=x, y=y, text=text, transparency=50)
-
     return fig
 
 
@@ -333,7 +340,6 @@ def test_text_varying_transparency():
     fig = Figure()
     fig.basemap(region=[0, 10, 10, 20], projection="X10c", frame=True)
     fig.text(x=x, y=y, text=text, transparency=transparency)
-
     return fig
 
 
@@ -357,7 +363,6 @@ def test_text_nonstr_text():
     Input text is in non-string type (e.g., int, float)
     """
     fig = Figure()
-
     fig.text(
         region=[0, 10, 0, 10],
         projection="X10c",
@@ -366,5 +371,4 @@ def test_text_nonstr_text():
         y=[1, 2, 3, 4],
         text=[1, 2, 3.0, 4.0],
     )
-
     return fig