diff --git a/Python/compile.c b/Python/compile.c
index ad616f24c61..dc31d2fce40 100644
--- a/Python/compile.c
+++ b/Python/compile.c
@@ -5294,6 +5294,11 @@ symtable_import(struct symtable *st, node *n)
 			}
 		}
 		if (TYPE(CHILD(n, 3)) == STAR) {
+			if (st->st_cur->ste_type != TYPE_MODULE) {
+				symtable_warn(st,
+				      "import * not allowed inside function");
+				return;
+			}
 			st->st_cur->ste_optimized |= OPT_IMPORT_STAR;
 			st->st_cur->ste_opt_lineno = n->n_lineno;
 		} else {