diff --git a/core.go b/core.go
index 9ce104e..2987b27 100644
--- a/core.go
+++ b/core.go
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tetratelabs/wazero/imports/wasi_snapshot_preview1"
 )
 
+var (
+	ErrModuleNotImported = fmt.Errorf("water: importing a module not imported by the WebAssembly module")
+	ErrFuncNotImported   = fmt.Errorf("water: importing a function not imported by the WebAssembly module")
+)
+
 // Core provides the low-level access to the WebAssembly runtime
 // environment.
 type Core interface {
@@ -246,17 +251,11 @@ func (c *core) ImportFunction(module, name string, f any) error {
 	// Unsafe: check if the WebAssembly module really imports this function under
 	// the given module and name. If not, we warn and skip the import.
 	if mod, ok := c.ImportedFunctions()[module]; !ok {
-		log.LWarnf(c.config.Logger(), "water: module %s is not imported, skipping...", module)
-
-		// list all the imported modules
-		for mod := range c.ImportedFunctions() {
-			log.LWarnf(c.config.Logger(), "water: module %s is imported", mod)
-		}
-
-		return nil
+		log.LDebugf(c.config.Logger(), "water: module %s is not imported.", module)
+		return ErrModuleNotImported
 	} else if _, ok := mod[name]; !ok {
-		log.LWarnf(c.config.Logger(), "water: function %s.%s is not imported, skipping...", module, name)
-		return nil
+		log.LWarnf(c.config.Logger(), "water: function %s.%s is not imported.", module, name)
+		return ErrFuncNotImported
 	}
 
 	if _, ok := c.importModules[module]; !ok {
diff --git a/transport/v0/transport_module.go b/transport/v0/transport_module.go
index 57e0227..fd3b069 100644
--- a/transport/v0/transport_module.go
+++ b/transport/v0/transport_module.go
@@ -307,7 +307,9 @@ func (tm *TransportModule) LinkNetworkInterface(dialer *ManagedDialer, listener
 	}
 
 	if err := tm.core.ImportFunction("env", "host_dial", dialerFunc); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("water: linking dialer function, (*water.Core).ImportFunction: %w", err)
+		if dialer != nil || err != water.ErrFuncNotImported {
+			return fmt.Errorf("water: linking dialer function, (*water.Core).ImportFunction: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	var acceptFunc func() (fd int32)
@@ -327,7 +329,9 @@ func (tm *TransportModule) LinkNetworkInterface(dialer *ManagedDialer, listener
 	}
 
 	if err := tm.core.ImportFunction("env", "host_accept", acceptFunc); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("water: linking listener function, (*water.Core).ImportFunction: %w", err)
+		if listener != nil || err != water.ErrFuncNotImported {
+			return fmt.Errorf("water: linking listener function, (*water.Core).ImportFunction: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -347,17 +351,33 @@ func (tm *TransportModule) Initialize() error {
 	if err = tm.core.ImportFunction("env", "host_defer", func() {
 		tm.DeferAll()
 	}); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("water: (*water.Core).ImportFunction returned error "+
-			"when importing host_defer function: %w", err)
+		if err == water.ErrFuncNotImported {
+			log.LWarnf(tm.core.Logger(), "water: host_defer function is not imported by WATM, "+
+				"deferred functions will not be executed when WATM exits")
+		} else {
+			return fmt.Errorf("water: (*water.Core).ImportFunction returned error "+
+				"when importing host_defer function: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// import pull_config function (it is called pushConfig here in the host)
-	// if tm.core.ImportedFunctions()["env"]["pull_config"] != nil {
 	if err = tm.core.ImportFunction("env", "pull_config", tm.pushConfig); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("water: (*water.Core).ImportFunction returned error "+
-			"when importing pull_config function: %w", err)
+		if err == water.ErrFuncNotImported {
+			// If a config is provided, we will warn the user that the config WILL NOT be
+			// pushed to the WASM module.
+			if tm.core.Config().TransportModuleConfig != nil {
+				f, err := tm.core.Config().TransportModuleConfig.AsFile()
+				if f != nil && err == nil {
+					// there is a config file provided, must warn
+					log.LWarnf(tm.core.Logger(), "water: pull_config function is not imported by WATM, "+
+						"config file will not be pushed to the WASM module")
+				}
+			}
+		} else {
+			return fmt.Errorf("water: (*water.Core).ImportFunction returned error "+
+				"when importing pull_config function: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
-	// }
 
 	// instantiate the WASM module
 	if err = tm.core.Instantiate(); err != nil {