diff --git a/src/pkg/netchan/export.go b/src/pkg/netchan/export.go
index d7dceead990..73a070c95ce 100644
--- a/src/pkg/netchan/export.go
+++ b/src/pkg/netchan/export.go
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func newClient(exp *Exporter, conn net.Conn) *expClient {
 
 func (client *expClient) sendError(hdr *header, err string) {
 	error := &error{err}
-	expLog("sending error to client", error.error)
+	expLog("sending error to client:", error.error)
 	client.encode(hdr, payError, error) // ignore any encode error, hope client gets it
 	client.mu.Lock()
 	client.errored = true
diff --git a/src/pkg/netchan/import.go b/src/pkg/netchan/import.go
index e6bf4cbb328..bb19dd4702f 100644
--- a/src/pkg/netchan/import.go
+++ b/src/pkg/netchan/import.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type Importer struct {
 	conn     net.Conn
 	chanLock sync.Mutex // protects access to channel map
 	chans    map[string]*chanDir
+	errors   chan os.Error
 }
 
 // NewImporter creates a new Importer object to import channels
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ func NewImporter(network, remoteaddr string) (*Importer, os.Error) {
 	imp.encDec = newEncDec(conn)
 	imp.conn = conn
 	imp.chans = make(map[string]*chanDir)
+	imp.errors = make(chan os.Error, 10)
 	go imp.run()
 	return imp, nil
 }
@@ -86,15 +88,18 @@ func (imp *Importer) run() {
 			}
 			if err.error != "" {
 				impLog("response error:", err.error)
-				imp.shutdown()
-				return
+				if sent := imp.errors <- os.ErrorString(err.error); !sent {
+					imp.shutdown()
+					return
+				}
+				continue // errors are not acknowledged.
 			}
 		case payClosed:
 			ich := imp.getChan(hdr.name)
 			if ich != nil {
 				ich.ch.Close()
 			}
-			continue
+			continue // closes are not acknowledged.
 		default:
 			impLog("unexpected payload type:", hdr.payloadType)
 			return
@@ -132,6 +137,14 @@ func (imp *Importer) getChan(name string) *chanDir {
 	return ich
 }
 
+// Errors returns a channel from which transmission and protocol errors
+// can be read. Clients of the importer are not required to read the error
+// channel for correct execution. However, if too many errors occur
+// without being read from the error channel, the importer will shut down.
+func (imp *Importer) Errors() chan os.Error {
+	return imp.errors
+}
+
 // Import imports a channel of the given type and specified direction.
 // It is equivalent to ImportNValues with a count of -1, meaning unbounded.
 func (imp *Importer) Import(name string, chT interface{}, dir Dir) os.Error {
diff --git a/src/pkg/netchan/netchan_test.go b/src/pkg/netchan/netchan_test.go
index 42cb3d1ec1e..4240b07869c 100644
--- a/src/pkg/netchan/netchan_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/netchan/netchan_test.go
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@
 
 package netchan
 
-import "testing"
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
 
 const count = 10     // number of items in most tests
 const closeCount = 5 // number of items when sender closes early
@@ -134,6 +138,45 @@ func TestClosingImportSendExportReceive(t *testing.T) {
 	exportReceive(exp, t)
 }
 
+func TestErrorForIllegalChannel(t *testing.T) {
+	exp, err := NewExporter("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("new exporter:", err)
+	}
+	imp, err := NewImporter("tcp", exp.Addr().String())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("new importer:", err)
+	}
+	// Now export a channel.
+	ch := make(chan int, 1)
+	err = exp.Export("aChannel", ch, Send)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("export:", err)
+	}
+	ch <- 1234
+	close(ch)
+	// Now try to import a different channel.
+	ch = make(chan int)
+	err = imp.Import("notAChannel", ch, Recv)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("import:", err)
+	}
+	// Expect an error now.  Start a timeout.
+	timeout := make(chan bool, 1) // buffered so closure will not hang around.
+	go func() {
+		time.Sleep(10e9) // very long, to give even really slow machines a chance.
+		timeout <- true
+	}()
+	select {
+	case err = <-imp.Errors():
+		if strings.Index(err.String(), "no such channel") < 0 {
+			t.Errorf("wrong error for nonexistent channel:", err)
+		}
+	case <-timeout:
+		t.Error("import of nonexistent channel did not receive an error")
+	}
+}
+
 // Not a great test but it does at least invoke Drain.
 func TestExportDrain(t *testing.T) {
 	exp, err := NewExporter("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")