diff --git a/question/format.php b/question/format.php
index c8fc1fd5b21..0be6f752c71 100644
--- a/question/format.php
+++ b/question/format.php
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ class qformat_default {
         // check for errors before we continue
         if ($this->stoponerror and ($this->importerrors>0)) {
             echo $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('importparseerror', 'question'));
-            return true;
+            return false;
         }
 
         // get list of valid answer grades
@@ -402,6 +402,7 @@ class qformat_default {
 
         // check for errors before we continue
         if ($this->stoponerror && $gradeerrors > 0) {
+            echo $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('importparseerror', 'question'));
             return false;
         }