diff --git a/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import.go b/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import.go
index f7de0bb78..ef2176d45 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import.go
@@ -122,15 +122,31 @@ func importRun(opts *ImportOptions) error {
 	var msg strings.Builder
 
 	for _, alias := range getSortedKeys(aliasMap) {
-		if !opts.validAliasName(alias) {
-			msg.WriteString(
-				fmt.Sprintf("%s Could not import alias %s: already a gh command, extension, or alias\n",
-					cs.FailureIcon(),
-					cs.Bold(alias),
-				),
-			)
+		var existingAlias bool
+		if _, err := aliasCfg.Get(alias); err == nil {
+			existingAlias = true
+		}
 
-			continue
+		if !opts.validAliasName(alias) {
+			if !existingAlias {
+				msg.WriteString(
+					fmt.Sprintf("%s Could not import alias %s: already a gh command or extension\n",
+						cs.FailureIcon(),
+						cs.Bold(alias),
+					),
+				)
+				continue
+			}
+
+			if existingAlias && !opts.OverwriteExisting {
+				msg.WriteString(
+					fmt.Sprintf("%s Could not import alias %s: name already taken\n",
+						cs.FailureIcon(),
+						cs.Bold(alias),
+					),
+				)
+				continue
+			}
 		}
 
 		expansion := aliasMap[alias]
@@ -142,31 +158,19 @@ func importRun(opts *ImportOptions) error {
 					cs.Bold(alias),
 				),
 			)
-
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if _, err := aliasCfg.Get(alias); err == nil {
-			if opts.OverwriteExisting {
-				aliasCfg.Add(alias, expansion)
+		aliasCfg.Add(alias, expansion)
 
-				msg.WriteString(
-					fmt.Sprintf("%s Changed alias %s\n",
-						cs.WarningIcon(),
-						cs.Bold(alias),
-					),
-				)
-			} else {
-				msg.WriteString(
-					fmt.Sprintf("%s Could not import alias %s: name already taken\n",
-						cs.FailureIcon(),
-						cs.Bold(alias),
-					),
-				)
-			}
+		if existingAlias && opts.OverwriteExisting {
+			msg.WriteString(
+				fmt.Sprintf("%s Changed alias %s\n",
+					cs.WarningIcon(),
+					cs.Bold(alias),
+				),
+			)
 		} else {
-			aliasCfg.Add(alias, expansion)
-
 			msg.WriteString(
 				fmt.Sprintf("%s Added alias %s\n",
 					cs.SuccessIcon(),
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import_test.go b/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import_test.go
index 0013429f6..024f52f02 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/alias/imports/import_test.go
@@ -112,13 +112,14 @@ func TestImportRun(t *testing.T) {
 	importStdinMsg := "- Importing aliases from standard input"
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		name         string
-		opts         *ImportOptions
-		stdin        string
-		fileContents string
-		initConfig   string
-		wantConfig   string
-		wantStderr   string
+		name          string
+		opts          *ImportOptions
+		stdin         string
+		fileContents  string
+		initConfig    string
+		aliasCommands []*cobra.Command
+		wantConfig    string
+		wantStderr    string
 	}{
 		{
 			name: "with no existing aliases",
@@ -158,6 +159,9 @@ func TestImportRun(t *testing.T) {
                     igrep: '!gh issue list --label="$1" | grep "$2"'
                 editor: vim
             `),
+			aliasCommands: []*cobra.Command{
+				{Use: "igrep"},
+			},
 			wantConfig: heredoc.Doc(`
                 aliases:
                     igrep: '!gh issue list --label="$1" | grep "$2"'
@@ -211,6 +215,9 @@ func TestImportRun(t *testing.T) {
                     co: pr checkout
                 editor: vim
             `),
+			aliasCommands: []*cobra.Command{
+				{Use: "co"},
+			},
 			wantConfig: heredoc.Doc(`
                 aliases:
                     co: pr checkout
@@ -234,6 +241,9 @@ func TestImportRun(t *testing.T) {
                     co: pr checkout
                 editor: vim
             `),
+			aliasCommands: []*cobra.Command{
+				{Use: "co"},
+			},
 			wantConfig: heredoc.Doc(`
                 aliases:
                     co: pr checkout -R cool/repo
@@ -256,9 +266,9 @@ func TestImportRun(t *testing.T) {
 			wantStderr: strings.Join(
 				[]string{
 					importFileMsg,
-					"X Could not import alias api: already a gh command, extension, or alias",
-					"X Could not import alias issue: already a gh command, extension, or alias",
-					"X Could not import alias pr: already a gh command, extension, or alias\n\n",
+					"X Could not import alias api: already a gh command or extension",
+					"X Could not import alias issue: already a gh command or extension",
+					"X Could not import alias pr: already a gh command or extension\n\n",
 				},
 				"\n",
 			),
@@ -315,6 +325,9 @@ func TestImportRun(t *testing.T) {
 			apiCmd := &cobra.Command{Use: "api"}
 			apiCmd.AddCommand(&cobra.Command{Use: "graphql"})
 			rootCmd.AddCommand(apiCmd)
+			for _, cmd := range tt.aliasCommands {
+				rootCmd.AddCommand(cmd)
+			}
 
 			tt.opts.validAliasName = shared.ValidAliasNameFunc(rootCmd)
 			tt.opts.validAliasExpansion = shared.ValidAliasExpansionFunc(rootCmd)