diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index 891507d2ed..cc8256f317 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ func importChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	fmt.Printf("GC pause:      %v\n\n", time.Duration(mem.PauseTotalNs))
 
 	if ctx.Bool(utils.NoCompactionFlag.Name) {
-		return nil
+		return importErr
 	}
 
 	// Compact the entire database to more accurately measure disk io and print the stats