diff --git a/examples/playbooks/import-failed-syntax-check.yml b/examples/playbooks/import-failed-syntax-check.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2db02fbacd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/playbooks/import-failed-syntax-check.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+- name: Import syntax-error.yml playbook
+  import_playbook: syntax-error.yml
diff --git a/examples/playbooks/import-nonexistent-playbook.yml b/examples/playbooks/import-nonexistent-playbook.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aa96caa9e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/playbooks/import-nonexistent-playbook.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+- name: Import nonexistent playbook
+  import_playbook: i-do-not-exist.yml
diff --git a/src/ansiblelint/utils.py b/src/ansiblelint/utils.py
index 1446572e06..19c6356291 100644
--- a/src/ansiblelint/utils.py
+++ b/src/ansiblelint/utils.py
@@ -316,11 +316,12 @@ def include_children(  # pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements
 
         if k in ("import_playbook", "ansible.builtin.import_playbook"):
             included = Path(basedir) / v
-            if self.app.runtime.has_playbook(v, basedir=Path(basedir)):
-                if included.exists():
-                    return [Lintable(included, kind=parent_type)]
-                return []
-            msg = f"Failed to find {v} playbook."
+            if not included.exists():
+                msg = f"Failed to find {v} playbook."
+            elif not self.app.runtime.has_playbook(v, basedir=Path(basedir)):
+                msg = f"Failed to load {v} playbook due to failing syntax check."
+            else:
+                return [Lintable(included, kind=parent_type)]
             logging.error(msg)
             return []
 
diff --git a/test/test_utils.py b/test/test_utils.py
index 6a3b1c607e..09f623466a 100644
--- a/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/test/test_utils.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 from ansiblelint.constants import RC
 from ansiblelint.file_utils import Lintable, cwd
 from ansiblelint.runner import Runner
+from ansiblelint.testing import run_ansible_lint
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Sequence
@@ -490,3 +491,15 @@ def test_find_children_in_playbook(default_rules_collection: RulesCollection) ->
     ).find_children(lintable)
     assert len(children) == 1
     assert children[0].role == "bug4095"
+
+
+def test_include_children_load_playbook_failed_syntax_check() -> None:
+    """Verify include_children() logs playbook failed to load due to syntax-check."""
+    result = run_ansible_lint(
+        Path("playbooks/import-failed-syntax-check.yml"),
+        cwd=Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "examples",
+    )
+    assert (
+        "Failed to load syntax-error.yml playbook due to failing syntax check."
+        in result.stderr
+    )