diff --git a/dvc/repo/pull.py b/dvc/repo/pull.py
index 7c92588247..d455fe4a34 100644
--- a/dvc/repo/pull.py
+++ b/dvc/repo/pull.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ def pull(
         with_deps=with_deps,
         recursive=recursive,
     )
+    # This throws CheckoutError
     self._checkout(
         targets=targets, with_deps=with_deps, force=force, recursive=recursive
     )
diff --git a/tests/func/test_import.py b/tests/func/test_import.py
index 0d1f17e996..3994a38e4c 100644
--- a/tests/func/test_import.py
+++ b/tests/func/test_import.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import os
 import filecmp
+import shutil
 
 import pytest
 from mock import patch
@@ -84,6 +85,12 @@ def test_download_error_pulling_imported_stage(dvc_repo, erepo):
     ), pytest.raises(DownloadError):
         dvc_repo.pull(["foo_imported.dvc"])
 
+    # When repo is absent we should still get DownloadError
+    shutil.rmtree(erepo.dvc.cache.local.cache_dir)
+
+    with pytest.raises(DownloadError):
+        dvc_repo.pull(["foo_imported.dvc"])
+
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("dname", [".", "dir", "dir/subdir"])
 def test_import_to_dir(dname, repo_dir, dvc_repo, erepo):