diff --git a/Python/import.c b/Python/import.c
index 93defeff7fb..ee905eb286a 100644
--- a/Python/import.c
+++ b/Python/import.c
@@ -1591,7 +1591,7 @@ find_module(char *fullname, char *subname, PyObject *path, char *buf,
 
         meta_path = PySys_GetObject("meta_path");
         if (meta_path == NULL || !PyList_Check(meta_path)) {
-            PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ImportError,
+            PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError,
                             "sys.meta_path must be a list of "
                             "import hooks");
             return NULL;
@@ -1641,14 +1641,14 @@ find_module(char *fullname, char *subname, PyObject *path, char *buf,
     }
 
     if (path == NULL || !PyList_Check(path)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ImportError,
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError,
                         "sys.path must be a list of directory names");
         return NULL;
     }
 
     path_hooks = PySys_GetObject("path_hooks");
     if (path_hooks == NULL || !PyList_Check(path_hooks)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ImportError,
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError,
                         "sys.path_hooks must be a list of "
                         "import hooks");
         return NULL;
@@ -1656,7 +1656,7 @@ find_module(char *fullname, char *subname, PyObject *path, char *buf,
     path_importer_cache = PySys_GetObject("path_importer_cache");
     if (path_importer_cache == NULL ||
         !PyDict_Check(path_importer_cache)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ImportError,
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError,
                         "sys.path_importer_cache must be a dict");
         return NULL;
     }