diff --git a/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils.py b/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils.py
index 1a41782b..84a547d2 100644
--- a/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils.py
+++ b/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils.py
@@ -108,7 +108,17 @@ def _import_dotted_name(
               f'attribute {failing_name!r}; available names: {available_names}'
           ) from None
       return value
-    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    except ModuleNotFoundError as e:
+      # If the missing module isn't along the path we tried to import,
+      # it's an internal import error — surface the real error.
+      # e.name is None when the error has no associated module name
+      if e.name is None:
+        raise
+      # If e.name is a prefix of name_pieces, the path simply doesn't
+      # exist at this split point. Otherwise, the module
+      # exists but broke importing an unrelated dependency.
+      if (missing := e.name.split('.')) != name_pieces[: len(missing)]:
+        raise
       if i == 1:  # Final iteration through the loop.
         raise
 
diff --git a/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils_test.py b/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils_test.py
index eaf6c519..2919dcd2 100644
--- a/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils_test.py
+++ b/fiddle/_src/absl_flags/utils_test.py
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import dataclasses
+import os
 import sys
+import tempfile
 from typing import Any
 
 from absl.testing import absltest
@@ -159,5 +161,36 @@ def test_from_fully_qualified_name(self):
     self.assertEqual(cfg, base_experiment())
 
 
+class ImportDottedNameTest(absltest.TestCase):
+  """Tests that _import_dotted_name surfaces real import errors."""
+
+  def test_internal_import_error_is_not_swallowed(self):
+    """A module that exists but has a broken import should raise."""
+    tmpdir = self.enterContext(tempfile.TemporaryDirectory())
+    module_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, '_broken_module.py')
+    with open(module_path, 'w') as f:
+      f.write('import _nonexistent_dependency\n')
+    sys.path.insert(0, tmpdir)
+    self.addCleanup(lambda: sys.path.remove(tmpdir))
+    self.addCleanup(lambda: sys.modules.pop('_broken_module', None))
+
+    with self.assertRaises(ModuleNotFoundError) as ctx:
+      utils._import_dotted_name(
+          '_broken_module.some_symbol',
+          mode=_IRRELEVANT_MODE,
+          module=None,
+      )
+    self.assertIn('_nonexistent_dependency', str(ctx.exception))
+
+  def test_nonexistent_module_raises_module_not_found(self):
+    """A module that doesn't exist should raise ModuleNotFoundError."""
+    with self.assertRaises(ModuleNotFoundError):
+      utils._import_dotted_name(
+          'completely_nonexistent_module.some_symbol',
+          mode=_IRRELEVANT_MODE,
+          module=None,
+      )
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   absltest.main()