diff --git a/pygmt/src/blockm.py b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
index d582da24438..a7de8f77f56 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/blockm.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def _blockm(block_method, table, outfile, x, y, z, **kwargs):
     V="verbose",
     a="aspatial",
     b="binary",
-    d="data",
+    d="nodata",
     e="find",
     f="coltypes",
     h="header",
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ def blockmedian(table=None, outfile=None, *, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
     V="verbose",
     a="aspatial",
     b="binary",
-    d="data",
+    d="nodata",
     e="find",
     f="coltypes",
     h="header",