diff --git a/packages/babel-parser/src/parser/expression.js b/packages/babel-parser/src/parser/expression.js
index a2826e139f..202d7cc7e0 100644
--- a/packages/babel-parser/src/parser/expression.js
+++ b/packages/babel-parser/src/parser/expression.js
@@ -919,7 +919,10 @@ export default class ExpressionParser extends LValParser {
         this.expectPlugin("dynamicImport", node.start);
 
         if (!this.match(tt.parenL)) {
-          this.unexpected(null, tt.parenL);
+          this.raise(
+            this.state.lastTokStart,
+            "import can only be used in import() or import.meta",
+          );
         }
         return this.finishNode(node, "Import");
       case tt._this:
diff --git a/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/input.js b/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/input.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..477eec2654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/input.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+(import)
diff --git a/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/options.json b/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/options.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1629df1f36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/options.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "plugins": ["dynamicImport"]
+}
diff --git a/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/output.json b/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/output.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fe56e0811a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-parser/test/fixtures/experimental/dynamic-import/invalid-lone-import/output.json
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{
+  "type": "File",
+  "start": 0,
+  "end": 8,
+  "loc": {
+    "start": {
+      "line": 1,
+      "column": 0
+    },
+    "end": {
+      "line": 1,
+      "column": 8
+    }
+  },
+  "errors": [
+    "SyntaxError: import can only be used in import() or import.meta (1:1)"
+  ],
+  "program": {
+    "type": "Program",
+    "start": 0,
+    "end": 8,
+    "loc": {
+      "start": {
+        "line": 1,
+        "column": 0
+      },
+      "end": {
+        "line": 1,
+        "column": 8
+      }
+    },
+    "sourceType": "script",
+    "interpreter": null,
+    "body": [
+      {
+        "type": "ExpressionStatement",
+        "start": 0,
+        "end": 8,
+        "loc": {
+          "start": {
+            "line": 1,
+            "column": 0
+          },
+          "end": {
+            "line": 1,
+            "column": 8
+          }
+        },
+        "expression": {
+          "type": "Import",
+          "start": 1,
+          "end": 7,
+          "loc": {
+            "start": {
+              "line": 1,
+              "column": 1
+            },
+            "end": {
+              "line": 1,
+              "column": 7
+            }
+          },
+          "extra": {
+            "parenthesized": true,
+            "parenStart": 0
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    "directives": []
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file