diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index 1aed800f6..6245c691b 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -54,10 +54,11 @@ func importChain(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	}
 	chain, blockDB, stateDB, extraDB := utils.MakeChain(ctx)
 	start := time.Now()
-	if err := utils.ImportChain(chain, ctx.Args().First()); err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("Import error: %v\n", err)
-	}
+	err := utils.ImportChain(chain, ctx.Args().First())
 	flushAll(blockDB, stateDB, extraDB)
+	if err != nil {
+		utils.Fatalf("Import error: %v", err)
+	}
 	fmt.Printf("Import done in %v", time.Since(start))
 }
 
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ func upgradeDB(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	filename := fmt.Sprintf("blockchain_%d_%s.chain", bcVersion, time.Now().Format("20060102_150405"))
 	exportFile := filepath.Join(ctx.GlobalString(utils.DataDirFlag.Name), filename)
 	if err := utils.ExportChain(chain, exportFile); err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("Unable to export chain for reimport %s\n", err)
+		utils.Fatalf("Unable to export chain for reimport %s", err)
 	}
 	flushAll(blockDB, stateDB, extraDB)
 	os.RemoveAll(filepath.Join(ctx.GlobalString(utils.DataDirFlag.Name), "blockchain"))
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ func upgradeDB(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	err := utils.ImportChain(chain, exportFile)
 	flushAll(blockDB, stateDB, extraDB)
 	if err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("Import error %v (a backup is made in %s, use the import command to import it)\n", err, exportFile)
+		utils.Fatalf("Import error %v (a backup is made in %s, use the import command to import it)", err, exportFile)
 	} else {
 		os.Remove(exportFile)
 		glog.Infoln("Import finished")
diff --git a/cmd/utils/cmd.go b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
index 06c240bd4..2e2b627df 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
@@ -173,22 +173,47 @@ func FormatTransactionData(data string) []byte {
 	return d
 }
 
-func ImportChain(chainmgr *core.ChainManager, fn string) error {
+func ImportChain(chain *core.ChainManager, fn string) error {
+	// Watch for Ctrl-C while the import is running.
+	// If a signal is received, the import will stop at the next batch.
+	interrupt := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	stop := make(chan struct{})
+	signal.Notify(interrupt, os.Interrupt)
+	defer signal.Stop(interrupt)
+	defer close(interrupt)
+	go func() {
+		if _, ok := <-interrupt; ok {
+			glog.Info("caught interrupt during import, will stop at next batch")
+		}
+		close(stop)
+	}()
+	checkInterrupt := func() bool {
+		select {
+		case <-stop:
+			return true
+		default:
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+
 	glog.Infoln("Importing blockchain", fn)
-	fh, err := os.OpenFile(fn, os.O_RDONLY, os.ModePerm)
+	fh, err := os.Open(fn)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	defer fh.Close()
-
-	chainmgr.Reset()
 	stream := rlp.NewStream(fh, 0)
 
+	// Remove all existing blocks and start the import.
+	chain.Reset()
 	batchSize := 2500
 	blocks := make(types.Blocks, batchSize)
 	n := 0
 	for {
 		// Load a batch of RLP blocks.
+		if checkInterrupt() {
+			return fmt.Errorf("interrupted")
+		}
 		i := 0
 		for ; i < batchSize; i++ {
 			var b types.Block
@@ -204,7 +229,10 @@ func ImportChain(chainmgr *core.ChainManager, fn string) error {
 			break
 		}
 		// Import the batch.
-		if _, err := chainmgr.InsertChain(blocks[:i]); err != nil {
+		if checkInterrupt() {
+			return fmt.Errorf("interrupted")
+		}
+		if _, err := chain.InsertChain(blocks[:i]); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid block %d: %v", n, err)
 		}
 	}