diff --git a/electrum/gui/qml/__init__.py b/electrum/gui/qml/__init__.py
index 35926cb70..7e28f61f5 100644
--- a/electrum/gui/qml/__init__.py
+++ b/electrum/gui/qml/__init__.py
@@ -6,13 +6,19 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 try:
     import PyQt6
-except Exception:
-    sys.exit("Error: Could not import PyQt6. On Linux systems, you may try 'sudo apt-get install python3-pyqt6'")
+except Exception as e:
+    from electrum import GuiImportError
+    raise GuiImportError(
+        "Error: Could not import PyQt6. On Linux systems, "
+        "you may try 'sudo apt-get install python3-pyqt6'") from e
 
 try:
     import PyQt6.QtQml
-except Exception:
-    sys.exit("Error: Could not import PyQt6.QtQml. On Linux systems, you may try 'sudo apt-get install python3-pyqt6.qtquick'")
+except Exception as e:
+    from electrum import GuiImportError
+    raise GuiImportError(
+        "Error: Could not import PyQt6.QtQml. On Linux systems, "
+        "you may try 'sudo apt-get install python3-pyqt6.qtquick'") from e
 
 from PyQt6.QtCore import (Qt, QCoreApplication, QLocale, QTranslator, QTimer, QT_VERSION_STR, PYQT_VERSION_STR)
 from PyQt6.QtGui import QGuiApplication