diff --git a/lib/commands.py b/lib/commands.py
index 05e5628cd..5e67f8097 100644
--- a/lib/commands.py
+++ b/lib/commands.py
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ class Commands:
         return s.encode('utf8')
 
     def importprivkey(self, sec):
+        assert self.wallet.can_import()
         try:
             addr = self.wallet.import_key(sec,self.password)
             out = "Keypair imported: ", addr