diff --git a/py/builtinimport.c b/py/builtinimport.c
index 4024c5d59a..0e3f160a73 100644
--- a/py/builtinimport.c
+++ b/py/builtinimport.c
@@ -360,8 +360,7 @@ mp_obj_t mp_builtin___import__(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
         qstr new_mod_q = qstr_from_strn(new_mod, new_mod_l);
         DEBUG_printf("Resolved base name for relative import: '%s'\n", qstr_str(new_mod_q));
         if (new_mod_q == MP_QSTR_) {
-            // CPython raises SystemError
-            mp_raise_msg(&mp_type_ImportError, "cannot perform relative import");
+            mp_raise_msg(&mp_type_ValueError, "cannot perform relative import");
         }
         module_name = MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(new_mod_q);
         mod_str = new_mod;
diff --git a/tests/import/pkg7/subpkg1/subpkg2/mod3.py b/tests/import/pkg7/subpkg1/subpkg2/mod3.py
index 747cde03b6..7ed69bdee9 100644
--- a/tests/import/pkg7/subpkg1/subpkg2/mod3.py
+++ b/tests/import/pkg7/subpkg1/subpkg2/mod3.py
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ print(bar)
 # whereas CPython raises a ValueError
 try:
     from .... import mod1
-except (ImportError, ValueError):
-    print('Error')
+except ValueError:
+    print('ValueError')