diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index eb0dda0952..f595df5e08 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -319,6 +319,9 @@ func importChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 			if err := utils.ImportChain(chain, arg); err != nil {
 				importErr = err
 				log.Error("Import error", "file", arg, "err", err)
+				if err == utils.ErrImportInterrupted {
+					break
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/utils/cmd.go b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
index de5918a722..33c93c2cc6 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ const (
 	importBatchSize = 2500
 )
 
+// ErrImportInterrupted is returned when the user interrupts the import process.
+var ErrImportInterrupted = errors.New("interrupted")
+
 // Fatalf formats a message to standard error and exits the program.
 // The message is also printed to standard output if standard error
 // is redirected to a different file.
@@ -191,7 +194,7 @@ func ImportChain(chain *core.BlockChain, fn string) error {
 	for batch := 0; ; batch++ {
 		// Load a batch of RLP blocks.
 		if checkInterrupt() {
-			return errors.New("interrupted")
+			return ErrImportInterrupted
 		}
 		i := 0
 		for ; i < importBatchSize; i++ {