diff --git a/cadquery/occ_impl/importers.py b/cadquery/occ_impl/importers.py
index ec1e2a16..fa3bdb4c 100644
--- a/cadquery/occ_impl/importers.py
+++ b/cadquery/occ_impl/importers.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import urllib as urlreader
 import tempfile
 
 from OCC.STEPControl import STEPControl_Reader
+import OCC.IFSelect
 
 
 class ImportTypes:
@@ -38,23 +39,22 @@ def importStep(fileName):
         :param fileName: The path and name of the STEP file to be imported
     """
     # Now read and return the shape
-    try:
-        reader = STEPControl_Reader()
-        reader.ReadFile(fileName)
-        reader.TransferRoot()
+    reader = STEPControl_Reader()
+    readStatus = reader.ReadFile(fileName)
+    if readStatus != OCC.IFSelect.IFSelect_RetDone:
+        raise ValueError("STEP File could not be loaded")
+    reader.TransferRoot()
 
-        occ_shapes = []
-        for i in range(reader.NbShapes()):
-            occ_shapes.append(reader.Shape(i + 1))
+    occ_shapes = []
+    for i in range(reader.NbShapes()):
+        occ_shapes.append(reader.Shape(i + 1))
 
-        # Make sure that we extract all the solids
-        solids = []
-        for shape in occ_shapes:
-            solids.append(Shape.cast(shape))
+    # Make sure that we extract all the solids
+    solids = []
+    for shape in occ_shapes:
+        solids.append(Shape.cast(shape))
 
-        return cadquery.Workplane("XY").newObject(solids)
-    except:
-        raise ValueError("STEP File Could not be loaded")
+    return cadquery.Workplane("XY").newObject(solids)
 
 # Loads a STEP file from an URL into a CQ.Workplane object
 
diff --git a/tests/TestImporters.py b/tests/TestImporters.py
index c455506e..e2b2b643 100644
--- a/tests/TestImporters.py
+++ b/tests/TestImporters.py
@@ -48,6 +48,16 @@ class TestImporters(BaseTest):
         """
         self.importBox(importers.ImportTypes.STEP, OUTDIR + "/tempSTEP.step")
 
+    def testInvalidSTEP(self):
+        """
+        Attempting to load an invalid STEP file should throw an exception, but
+        not segfault.
+        """
+        tmpfile = OUTDIR + "/badSTEP.step"
+        with open(tmpfile, 'w') as f: f.write("invalid STEP file")
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            importers.importShape(importers.ImportTypes.STEP, tmpfile)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import unittest