diff --git a/py/builtinimport.c b/py/builtinimport.c
index 4a2f6510c3..07978e61d7 100644
--- a/py/builtinimport.c
+++ b/py/builtinimport.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void do_load(mp_obj_t module_obj, vstr_t *file) {
         // TODO handle compile error correctly
         mp_locals_set(old_locals);
         mp_globals_set(old_globals);
-        return;
+        nlr_raise(mp_obj_new_exception_msg(&mp_type_SyntaxError, "Syntax error in imported module"));
     }
 
     // complied successfully, execute it