diff --git a/python/src/py/builtinimport.c b/python/src/py/builtinimport.c
index 1a333b540..bb88f2ace 100644
--- a/python/src/py/builtinimport.c
+++ b/python/src/py/builtinimport.c
@@ -334,6 +334,10 @@ mp_obj_t mp_builtin___import__(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
         mod_len = new_mod_l;
     }
 
+    if (mod_len == 0) {
+        mp_raise_ValueError(NULL);
+    }
+
     // check if module already exists
     qstr module_name_qstr = mp_obj_str_get_qstr(module_name);
     mp_obj_t module_obj = mp_module_get(module_name_qstr);