diff --git a/aiida/orm/importexport.py b/aiida/orm/importexport.py
index fbe5da901b..68d5bb8db9 100644
--- a/aiida/orm/importexport.py
+++ b/aiida/orm/importexport.py
@@ -939,6 +939,8 @@ def import_data_sqla(in_path, ignore_unknown_nodes=False, silent=False):
             else:
                 msg += "\nUpdate your AiiDA version in order to import this file."
 
+            raise ValueError(msg)
+
         ###################################################################
         #           CREATE UUID REVERSE TABLES AND CHECK IF               #
         #              I HAVE ALL NODES FOR THE LINKS                     #