diff --git a/cli/context/store/store.go b/cli/context/store/store.go
index 85be802c66..b3cd4c54ed 100644
--- a/cli/context/store/store.go
+++ b/cli/context/store/store.go
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ func importTar(name string, s Writer, reader io.Reader) error {
 	tlsData := ContextTLSData{
 		Endpoints: map[string]EndpointTLSData{},
 	}
-
+	var importedMetaFile bool
 	for {
 		hdr, err := tr.Next()
 		if err == io.EOF {
@@ -325,6 +325,7 @@ func importTar(name string, s Writer, reader io.Reader) error {
 			if err := s.CreateOrUpdate(meta); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			importedMetaFile = true
 		} else if strings.HasPrefix(hdr.Name, "tls/") {
 			data, err := ioutil.ReadAll(tr)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -335,7 +336,9 @@ func importTar(name string, s Writer, reader io.Reader) error {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
+	if !importedMetaFile {
+		return errdefs.InvalidParameter(errors.New("invalid context: no metadata found"))
+	}
 	return s.ResetTLSMaterial(name, &tlsData)
 }
 
@@ -352,6 +355,7 @@ func importZip(name string, s Writer, reader io.Reader) error {
 		Endpoints: map[string]EndpointTLSData{},
 	}
 
+	var importedMetaFile bool
 	for _, zf := range zr.File {
 		fi := zf.FileInfo()
 		if fi.IsDir() {
@@ -376,6 +380,7 @@ func importZip(name string, s Writer, reader io.Reader) error {
 			if err := s.CreateOrUpdate(meta); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			importedMetaFile = true
 		} else if strings.HasPrefix(zf.Name, "tls/") {
 			f, err := zf.Open()
 			if err != nil {
@@ -392,7 +397,9 @@ func importZip(name string, s Writer, reader io.Reader) error {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
+	if !importedMetaFile {
+		return errdefs.InvalidParameter(errors.New("invalid context: no metadata found"))
+	}
 	return s.ResetTLSMaterial(name, &tlsData)
 }
 
diff --git a/cli/context/store/store_test.go b/cli/context/store/store_test.go
index b1d0fec7fa..dd8586551d 100644
--- a/cli/context/store/store_test.go
+++ b/cli/context/store/store_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package store
 
 import (
+	"archive/tar"
 	"archive/zip"
 	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
@@ -144,6 +145,39 @@ func TestDetectImportContentType(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Assert(t, zipType != ct)
 }
 
+func TestImportTarInvalid(t *testing.T) {
+	testDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", t.Name())
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(testDir)
+
+	tf := path.Join(testDir, "test.context")
+
+	f, err := os.Create(tf)
+	defer f.Close()
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	tw := tar.NewWriter(f)
+	hdr := &tar.Header{
+		Name: "dummy-file",
+		Mode: 0600,
+		Size: int64(len("hello world")),
+	}
+	err = tw.WriteHeader(hdr)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	_, err = tw.Write([]byte("hello world"))
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	err = tw.Close()
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	source, err := os.Open(tf)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	defer source.Close()
+	var r io.Reader = source
+	s := New(testDir, testCfg)
+	err = Import("tarInvalid", s, r)
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "invalid context: no metadata found")
+}
+
 func TestImportZip(t *testing.T) {
 	testDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", t.Name())
 	assert.NilError(t, err)
@@ -194,3 +228,31 @@ func TestImportZip(t *testing.T) {
 	err = Import("zipTest", s, r)
 	assert.NilError(t, err)
 }
+
+func TestImportZipInvalid(t *testing.T) {
+	testDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", t.Name())
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(testDir)
+
+	zf := path.Join(testDir, "test.zip")
+
+	f, err := os.Create(zf)
+	defer f.Close()
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	w := zip.NewWriter(f)
+
+	df, err := w.Create("dummy-file")
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	_, err = df.Write([]byte("hello world"))
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	err = w.Close()
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	source, err := os.Open(zf)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	defer source.Close()
+	var r io.Reader = source
+	s := New(testDir, testCfg)
+	err = Import("zipInvalid", s, r)
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "invalid context: no metadata found")
+}