diff --git a/Lib/test/test_import/test_lazy_imports.py b/Lib/test/test_import/test_lazy_imports.py
index 4a11c1aba60..60039ecb085 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_import/test_lazy_imports.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_import/test_lazy_imports.py
@@ -190,6 +190,38 @@ def test_lazy_import_type_exposed(self):
         self.assertTrue(hasattr(types, 'LazyImportType'))
         self.assertEqual(types.LazyImportType.__name__, 'lazy_import')
 
+    def test_lazy_import_type_invalid_fromlist_type(self):
+        """LazyImportType should reject invalid fromlist types."""
+        # fromlist must be None, a string, or a tuple - not an int
+        with self.assertRaises(TypeError) as cm:
+            types.LazyImportType({}, "module", 0)
+        self.assertIn("fromlist must be None, a string, or a tuple", str(cm.exception))
+
+        # Also test with other invalid types
+        with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+            types.LazyImportType({}, "module", [])  # list not allowed
+
+        with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+            types.LazyImportType({}, "module", {"x": 1})  # dict not allowed
+
+    def test_lazy_import_type_valid_fromlist(self):
+        """LazyImportType should accept valid fromlist types."""
+        # None is valid (implicit)
+        lazy1 = types.LazyImportType({}, "module")
+        self.assertIsNotNone(lazy1)
+
+        # Explicit None is valid
+        lazy2 = types.LazyImportType({}, "module", None)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(lazy2)
+
+        # String is valid
+        lazy3 = types.LazyImportType({}, "module", "attr")
+        self.assertIsNotNone(lazy3)
+
+        # Tuple is valid
+        lazy4 = types.LazyImportType({}, "module", ("attr1", "attr2"))
+        self.assertIsNotNone(lazy4)
+
 
 class SyntaxRestrictionTests(unittest.TestCase):
     """Tests for syntax restrictions on lazy imports."""
@@ -230,6 +262,35 @@ def test_lazy_import_func(self):
         with self.assertRaises(SyntaxError):
             import test.test_import.data.lazy_imports.lazy_import_func
 
+    def test_lazy_import_exec_in_function(self):
+        """lazy import via exec() inside a function should raise SyntaxError."""
+        # exec() inside a function creates a non-module-level context
+        # where lazy imports are not allowed
+        def f():
+            exec("lazy import json")
+
+        with self.assertRaises(SyntaxError) as cm:
+            f()
+        self.assertIn("only allowed at module level", str(cm.exception))
+
+    def test_lazy_import_exec_at_module_level(self):
+        """lazy import via exec() at module level should work."""
+        # exec() at module level (globals == locals) should allow lazy imports
+        code = textwrap.dedent("""
+            import sys
+            exec("lazy import json")
+            # Should be lazy - not loaded yet
+            assert 'json' not in sys.modules
+            print("OK")
+        """)
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            [sys.executable, "-c", code],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, f"stdout: {result.stdout}, stderr: {result.stderr}")
+        self.assertIn("OK", result.stdout)
+
 
 class EagerImportInLazyModeTests(unittest.TestCase):
     """Tests for imports that should remain eager even in lazy mode."""
diff --git a/Objects/lazyimportobject.c b/Objects/lazyimportobject.c
index af072ae45eb..d33970dbf19 100644
--- a/Objects/lazyimportobject.c
+++ b/Objects/lazyimportobject.c
@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@ _PyLazyImport_New(PyObject *builtins, PyObject *from, PyObject *attr)
         PyErr_BadArgument();
         return NULL;
     }
-    if (attr == Py_None) {
+    if (attr == Py_None || attr == NULL) {
         attr = NULL;
     }
-    assert(!attr || PyObject_IsTrue(attr));
+    else if (!PyUnicode_Check(attr) && !PyTuple_Check(attr)) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
+                        "lazy_import: fromlist must be None, a string, or a tuple");
+        return NULL;
+    }
     m = PyObject_GC_New(PyLazyImportObject, &PyLazyImport_Type);
     if (m == NULL) {
         return NULL;
diff --git a/Python/import.c b/Python/import.c
index ba7b98ec69a..90b2e544de0 100644
--- a/Python/import.c
+++ b/Python/import.c
@@ -4358,7 +4358,12 @@ _PyImport_LazyImportModuleLevelObject(PyThreadState *tstate,
 
     PyInterpreterState *interp = tstate->interp;
     _PyInterpreterFrame *frame = _PyEval_GetFrame();
-    assert(frame != NULL && frame->f_globals == frame->f_locals); // should only be called in global scope
+    if (frame == NULL || frame->f_globals != frame->f_locals) {
+        Py_DECREF(abs_name);
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_SyntaxError,
+                        "'lazy import' is only allowed at module level");
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
     // Check if the filter disables the lazy import.
     // We must hold a reference to the filter while calling it to prevent