diff --git a/crates/wasmtime/src/linker.rs b/crates/wasmtime/src/linker.rs
index 2a45b1ca0e0d..fd5230d1f7dc 100644
--- a/crates/wasmtime/src/linker.rs
+++ b/crates/wasmtime/src/linker.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ use crate::func::HostFunc;
 use crate::instance::InstancePre;
 use crate::store::StoreOpaque;
 use crate::{
-    AsContextMut, Caller, Engine, Extern, Func, FuncType, ImportType, Instance, IntoFunc, Module,
-    StoreContextMut, Trap, Val, ValRaw,
+    AsContextMut, Caller, Engine, Extern, ExternType, Func, FuncType, ImportType, Instance,
+    IntoFunc, Module, StoreContextMut, Trap, Val, ValRaw,
 };
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use log::warn;
@@ -237,6 +237,48 @@ impl<T> Linker<T> {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Implement any imports of the given [`Module`] with a function which traps.
+    ///
+    /// By default a [`Linker`] will error when unknown imports are encountered
+    /// in a command module while using [`Linker::module`]. Use this function
+    /// when
+    ///
+    /// This method can be used to allow unknown imports from command modules.
+    ///
+    /// # Examples
+    ///
+    /// ```
+    /// # use wasmtime::*;
+    /// # fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    /// # let engine = Engine::default();
+    /// # let module = Module::new(&engine, "(module (import \"unknown\" \"import\" (func)))")?;
+    /// # let mut store = Store::new(&engine, ());
+    /// let mut linker = Linker::new(&engine);
+    /// linker.define_unknown_imports_as_traps(&module)?;
+    /// linker.instantiate(&mut store, &module)?;
+    /// # Ok(())
+    /// # }
+    /// ```
+    #[cfg(compiler)]
+    #[cfg_attr(nightlydoc, doc(cfg(feature = "cranelift")))] // see build.rs
+    pub fn define_unknown_imports_as_traps(&mut self, module: &Module) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        for import in module.imports() {
+            if self._get_by_import(&import).is_err() {
+                if let ExternType::Func(func_ty) = import.ty() {
+                    let err_msg = format!(
+                        "unknown import: `{}::{}` has not been defined",
+                        import.module(),
+                        import.name(),
+                    );
+                    self.func_new(import.module(), import.name(), func_ty, move |_, _, _| {
+                        Err(Trap::new(err_msg.clone()))
+                    })?;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     /// Defines a new item in this [`Linker`].
     ///
     /// This method will add a new definition, by name, to this instance of
diff --git a/src/commands/run.rs b/src/commands/run.rs
index 05f466d9b4ec..7dc398bb8c44 100644
--- a/src/commands/run.rs
+++ b/src/commands/run.rs
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ pub struct RunCommand {
     #[clap(long = "allow-unknown-exports")]
     allow_unknown_exports: bool,
 
+    /// Allow the main module to import unknown functions, using an
+    /// implementation that immediately traps, when running commands.
+    #[clap(long = "trap-unknown-imports")]
+    trap_unknown_imports: bool,
+
     /// Allow executing precompiled WebAssembly modules as `*.cwasm` files.
     ///
     /// Note that this option is not safe to pass if the module being passed in
@@ -313,8 +318,13 @@ impl RunCommand {
         }
 
         // Read the wasm module binary either as `*.wat` or a raw binary.
-        // Use "" as a default module name.
         let module = self.load_module(linker.engine(), &self.module)?;
+        // The main module might be allowed to have unknown imports, which
+        // should be defined as traps:
+        if self.trap_unknown_imports {
+            linker.define_unknown_imports_as_traps(&module)?;
+        }
+        // Use "" as a default module name.
         linker
             .module(&mut *store, "", &module)
             .context(format!("failed to instantiate {:?}", self.module))?;
diff --git a/tests/all/linker.rs b/tests/all/linker.rs
index c356fedbc990..cc8e060afd05 100644
--- a/tests/all/linker.rs
+++ b/tests/all/linker.rs
@@ -340,3 +340,40 @@ fn instance_pre() -> Result<()> {
     instance_pre.instantiate(&mut store)?;
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn test_trapping_unknown_import() -> Result<()> {
+    const WAT: &str = r#"
+    (module
+      (type $t0 (func))
+      (import "" "imp" (func $.imp (type $t0)))
+      (func $run call $.imp)
+      (func $other)
+      (export "run" (func $run))
+      (export "other" (func $other))
+    )
+    "#;
+
+    let mut store = Store::<()>::default();
+    let module = Module::new(store.engine(), WAT).expect("failed to create module");
+    let mut linker = Linker::new(store.engine());
+
+    linker.define_unknown_imports_as_traps(&module)?;
+    let instance = linker.instantiate(&mut store, &module)?;
+
+    // "run" calls an import function which will not be defined, so it should trap
+    let run_func = instance
+        .get_func(&mut store, "run")
+        .expect("expected a run func in the module");
+
+    assert!(run_func.call(&mut store, &[], &mut []).is_err());
+
+    // "other" does not call the import function, so it should not trap
+    let other_func = instance
+        .get_func(&mut store, "other")
+        .expect("expected an other func in the module");
+
+    other_func.call(&mut store, &[], &mut [])?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}