diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index ba20272174..3de7b2bdcf 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -299,13 +299,17 @@ func importChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Import the chain
 	start := time.Now()
 
+	var importErr error
+
 	if len(ctx.Args()) == 1 {
 		if err := utils.ImportChain(chain, ctx.Args().First()); err != nil {
+			importErr = err
 			log.Error("Import error", "err", err)
 		}
 	} else {
 		for _, arg := range ctx.Args() {
 			if err := utils.ImportChain(chain, arg); err != nil {
+				importErr = err
 				log.Error("Import error", "file", arg, "err", err)
 			}
 		}
@@ -358,7 +362,7 @@ func importChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		utils.Fatalf("Failed to read database iostats: %v", err)
 	}
 	fmt.Println(ioStats)
-	return nil
+	return importErr
 }
 
 func exportChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {