diff --git a/Scripts/Features/ImportRegistryFile.ps1 b/Scripts/Features/ImportRegistryFile.ps1
index 68d18f4..5a0fb81 100644
--- a/Scripts/Features/ImportRegistryFile.ps1
+++ b/Scripts/Features/ImportRegistryFile.ps1
@@ -7,17 +7,25 @@ function ImportRegistryFile {
 
     Write-Host $message
 
-    # Validate that the regfile exists in both locations
-    if (-not (Test-Path "$script:RegfilesPath\$path") -or -not (Test-Path "$script:RegfilesPath\Sysprep\$path")) {
-        Write-Host "Error: Unable to find registry file: $path" -ForegroundColor Red
+    $usesOfflineHive = $script:Params.ContainsKey("Sysprep") -or $script:Params.ContainsKey("User")
+    $regFilePath = if ($usesOfflineHive) {
+        "$script:RegfilesPath\Sysprep\$path"
+    }
+    else {
+        "$script:RegfilesPath\$path"
+    }
+
+    if (-not (Test-Path $regFilePath)) {
+        $errorMessage = "Unable to find registry file: $path ($regFilePath)"
+        Write-Host "Error: $errorMessage" -ForegroundColor Red
         Write-Host ""
-        return
+        throw $errorMessage
     }
 
     # Reset exit code before running reg.exe for reliable success detection
     $global:LASTEXITCODE = 0
 
-    if ($script:Params.ContainsKey("Sysprep") -or $script:Params.ContainsKey("User")) {
+    if ($usesOfflineHive) {
         # Sysprep targets Default user, User targets the specified user
         $hiveDatPath = if ($script:Params.ContainsKey("Sysprep")) {
             GetUserDirectory -userName "Default" -fileName "NTUSER.DAT"
@@ -26,26 +34,62 @@ function ImportRegistryFile {
         }
 
         $regResult = Invoke-NonBlocking -ScriptBlock {
-            param($datPath, $regFilePath)
-            $global:LASTEXITCODE = 0
-            reg load "HKU\Default" $datPath | Out-Null
-            $output = reg import $regFilePath 2>&1
-            $code = $LASTEXITCODE
-            reg unload "HKU\Default" | Out-Null
-            return @{ Output = $output; ExitCode = $code }
-        } -ArgumentList @($hiveDatPath, "$script:RegfilesPath\Sysprep\$path")
+            param($hivePath, $targetRegFilePath)
+            $result = @{
+                Output = @()
+                ExitCode = 0
+                Error = $null
+            }
+
+            try {
+                $global:LASTEXITCODE = 0
+                reg load "HKU\Default" $hivePath | Out-Null
+                $loadExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE
+
+                if ($loadExitCode -ne 0) {
+                    throw "Failed to load user hive at '$hivePath' (exit code: $loadExitCode)"
+                }
+
+                $output = reg import $targetRegFilePath 2>&1
+                $importExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE
+
+                if ($output) {
+                    $result.Output = @($output)
+                }
+                $result.ExitCode = $importExitCode
+
+                if ($importExitCode -ne 0) {
+                    throw "Registry import failed with exit code $importExitCode for '$targetRegFilePath'"
+                }
+            }
+            catch {
+                $result.Error = $_.Exception.Message
+                $result.ExitCode = if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { $LASTEXITCODE } else { 1 }
+            }
+            finally {
+                $global:LASTEXITCODE = 0
+                reg unload "HKU\Default" | Out-Null
+                $unloadExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE
+                if ($unloadExitCode -ne 0 -and -not $result.Error) {
+                    $result.Error = "Failed to unload temporary hive HKU\\Default (exit code: $unloadExitCode)"
+                    $result.ExitCode = $unloadExitCode
+                }
+            }
+
+            return $result
+        } -ArgumentList @($hiveDatPath, $regFilePath)
     }
     else {
         $regResult = Invoke-NonBlocking -ScriptBlock {
-            param($regFilePath)
+            param($targetRegFilePath)
             $global:LASTEXITCODE = 0
-            $output = reg import $regFilePath 2>&1
-            return @{ Output = $output; ExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE }
-        } -ArgumentList "$script:RegfilesPath\$path"
+            $output = reg import $targetRegFilePath 2>&1
+            return @{ Output = @($output); ExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE; Error = $null }
+        } -ArgumentList $regFilePath
     }
 
-    $regOutput = $regResult.Output
-    $hasSuccess = $regResult.ExitCode -eq 0
+    $regOutput = @($regResult.Output)
+    $hasSuccess = ($regResult.ExitCode -eq 0) -and -not $regResult.Error
     
     if ($regOutput) {
         foreach ($line in $regOutput) {
@@ -62,7 +106,11 @@ function ImportRegistryFile {
     }
 
     if (-not $hasSuccess) {
-        Write-Host "Failed importing registry file: $path" -ForegroundColor Red
+        $details = if ($regResult.Error) { $regResult.Error } else { "Exit code: $($regResult.ExitCode)" }
+        $errorMessage = "Failed importing registry file '$path'. $details"
+        Write-Host $errorMessage -ForegroundColor Red
+        Write-Host ""
+        throw $errorMessage
     }
 
     Write-Host ""