diff --git a/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint.go b/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint.go
index ce3465b484e..6983175cea0 100644
--- a/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint.go
+++ b/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint.go
@@ -97,9 +97,9 @@ func execLint(cfg *lintCfg, args []string, io commands.IO) error {
 
 	hasError := false
 
-	bs, ts := test.Store(
-		rootDir, false,
-		nopReader{}, goio.Discard, goio.Discard,
+	bs, ts := test.StoreWithOptions(
+		rootDir, nopReader{}, goio.Discard, goio.Discard,
+		test.StoreOptions{PreprocessOnly: true},
 	)
 
 	for _, pkgPath := range pkgPaths {
@@ -162,13 +162,10 @@ func execLint(cfg *lintCfg, args []string, io commands.IO) error {
 			tm := test.Machine(gs, goio.Discard, memPkg.Path)
 			defer tm.Release()
 
-			// Check package
-			tm.RunMemPackage(memPkg, true)
-
 			// Check test files
-			testFiles := lintTestFiles(memPkg)
+			packageFiles := sourceAndTestFileset(memPkg)
 
-			tm.RunFiles(testFiles.Files...)
+			tm.PreprocessFiles(memPkg.Name, memPkg.Path, packageFiles, false, false)
 		})
 		if hasRuntimeErr {
 			hasError = true
@@ -221,20 +218,21 @@ func lintTypeCheck(io commands.IO, memPkg *gnovm.MemPackage, testStore gno.Store
 	return true, nil
 }
 
-func lintTestFiles(memPkg *gnovm.MemPackage) *gno.FileSet {
+func sourceAndTestFileset(memPkg *gnovm.MemPackage) *gno.FileSet {
 	testfiles := &gno.FileSet{}
 	for _, mfile := range memPkg.Files {
 		if !strings.HasSuffix(mfile.Name, ".gno") {
 			continue // Skip non-GNO files
 		}
 
-		n, _ := gno.ParseFile(mfile.Name, mfile.Body)
+		n := gno.MustParseFile(mfile.Name, mfile.Body)
 		if n == nil {
 			continue // Skip empty files
 		}
 
 		// XXX: package ending with `_test` is not supported yet
-		if strings.HasSuffix(mfile.Name, "_test.gno") && !strings.HasSuffix(string(n.PkgName), "_test") {
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(mfile.Name, "_filetest.gno") &&
+			!strings.HasSuffix(string(n.PkgName), "_test") {
 			// Keep only test files
 			testfiles.AddFiles(n)
 		}
diff --git a/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint_test.go b/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint_test.go
index 4589fc55f92..933bb2f02f0 100644
--- a/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint_test.go
+++ b/gnovm/cmd/gno/lint_test.go
@@ -24,16 +24,16 @@ func TestLintApp(t *testing.T) {
 			errShouldBe:         "exit code: 1",
 		}, {
 			args:                []string{"lint", "../../tests/integ/several-lint-errors/main.gno"},
-			stderrShouldContain: "../../tests/integ/several-lint-errors/main.gno:5:5: expected ';', found example (code=2)\n../../tests/integ/several-lint-errors/main.gno:6",
+			stderrShouldContain: "../../tests/integ/several-lint-errors/main.gno:5:5: expected ';', found example (code=3)\n../../tests/integ/several-lint-errors/main.gno:6",
 			errShouldBe:         "exit code: 1",
 		}, {
 			args: []string{"lint", "../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/main.gno"},
 			stderrShouldContain: func() string {
 				lines := []string{
-					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/file2.gno:3:5: expected 'IDENT', found '{' (code=2)",
-					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/file2.gno:5:1: expected type, found '}' (code=2)",
-					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/main.gno:5:5: expected ';', found example (code=2)",
-					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/main.gno:6:2: expected '}', found 'EOF' (code=2)",
+					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/file2.gno:3:5: expected 'IDENT', found '{' (code=3)",
+					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/file2.gno:5:1: expected type, found '}' (code=3)",
+					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/main.gno:5:5: expected ';', found example (code=3)",
+					"../../tests/integ/several-files-multiple-errors/main.gno:6:2: expected '}', found 'EOF' (code=3)",
 				}
 				return strings.Join(lines, "\n") + "\n"
 			}(),
diff --git a/gnovm/cmd/gno/run.go b/gnovm/cmd/gno/run.go
index 9a9beac5cd1..b4fe934661a 100644
--- a/gnovm/cmd/gno/run.go
+++ b/gnovm/cmd/gno/run.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func execRun(cfg *runCfg, args []string, io commands.IO) error {
 
 	// init store and machine
 	_, testStore := test.Store(
-		cfg.rootDir, false,
+		cfg.rootDir,
 		stdin, stdout, stderr)
 	if cfg.verbose {
 		testStore.SetLogStoreOps(true)
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger_test.go b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger_test.go
index 926ff0595e6..a9e0a4834d5 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger_test.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger_test.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func evalTest(debugAddr, in, file string) (out, err string) {
 		err = strings.TrimSpace(strings.ReplaceAll(err, "../../tests/files/", "files/"))
 	}()
 
-	_, testStore := test.Store(gnoenv.RootDir(), false, stdin, stdout, stderr)
+	_, testStore := test.Store(gnoenv.RootDir(), stdin, stdout, stderr)
 
 	f := gnolang.MustReadFile(file)
 
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/files_test.go b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/files_test.go
index 2c82f6d8f29..31f04087855 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/files_test.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/files_test.go
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ func TestFiles(t *testing.T) {
 			Error:   io.Discard,
 			Sync:    *withSync,
 		}
-		o.BaseStore, o.TestStore = test.Store(
-			rootDir, true,
-			nopReader{}, o.WriterForStore(), io.Discard,
+		o.BaseStore, o.TestStore = test.StoreWithOptions(
+			rootDir, nopReader{}, o.WriterForStore(), io.Discard,
+			test.StoreOptions{WithExtern: true},
 		)
 		return o
 	}
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/machine.go b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/machine.go
index 75d12ac5402..f7d2cf10f2c 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/machine.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/machine.go
@@ -454,6 +454,51 @@ func (m *Machine) RunFiles(fns ...*FileNode) {
 	m.runInitFromUpdates(pv, updates)
 }
 
+// PreprocessFiles runs Preprocess on the given files. It is used to detect
+// compile-time errors in the package.
+func (m *Machine) PreprocessFiles(pkgName, pkgPath string, fset *FileSet, save, withOverrides bool) (*PackageNode, *PackageValue) {
+	if !withOverrides {
+		if err := checkDuplicates(fset); err != nil {
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("running package %q: %w", pkgName, err))
+		}
+	}
+	pn := NewPackageNode(Name(pkgName), pkgPath, fset)
+	pv := pn.NewPackage()
+	pb := pv.GetBlock(m.Store)
+	m.SetActivePackage(pv)
+	m.Store.SetBlockNode(pn)
+	PredefineFileSet(m.Store, pn, fset)
+	for _, fn := range fset.Files {
+		fn = Preprocess(m.Store, pn, fn).(*FileNode)
+		// After preprocessing, save blocknodes to store.
+		SaveBlockNodes(m.Store, fn)
+		// Make block for fn.
+		// Each file for each *PackageValue gets its own file *Block,
+		// with values copied over from each file's
+		// *FileNode.StaticBlock.
+		fb := m.Alloc.NewBlock(fn, pb)
+		fb.Values = make([]TypedValue, len(fn.StaticBlock.Values))
+		copy(fb.Values, fn.StaticBlock.Values)
+		pv.AddFileBlock(fn.Name, fb)
+	}
+	// Get new values across all files in package.
+	pn.PrepareNewValues(pv)
+	// save package value.
+	var throwaway *Realm
+	if save {
+		// store new package values and types
+		throwaway = m.saveNewPackageValuesAndTypes()
+		if throwaway != nil {
+			m.Realm = throwaway
+		}
+		m.resavePackageValues(throwaway)
+		if throwaway != nil {
+			m.Realm = nil
+		}
+	}
+	return pn, pv
+}
+
 // Add files to the package's *FileSet and run decls in them.
 // This will also run each init function encountered.
 // Returns the updated typed values of package.
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go b/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go
index b0944d21646..fff80d672dc 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func NewRepl(opts ...ReplOption) *Repl {
 	r.stderr = &b
 
 	r.storeFunc = func() gno.Store {
-		_, st := test.Store(gnoenv.RootDir(), false, r.stdin, r.stdout, r.stderr)
+		_, st := test.Store(gnoenv.RootDir(), r.stdin, r.stdout, r.stderr)
 		return st
 	}
 
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/test/imports.go b/gnovm/pkg/test/imports.go
index a8dd709e501..95302ecffb0 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/test/imports.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/test/imports.go
@@ -25,22 +25,56 @@ import (
 	storetypes "github.com/gnolang/gno/tm2/pkg/store/types"
 )
 
+type StoreOptions struct {
+	// WithExtern interprets imports of packages under "github.com/gnolang/gno/_test/"
+	// as imports under the directory in gnovm/tests/files/extern.
+	// This should only be used for GnoVM internal filetests (gnovm/tests/files).
+	WithExtern bool
+
+	// PreprocessOnly instructs the PackageGetter to run the imported files using
+	// [gno.Machine.PreprocessFiles]. It avoids executing code for contexts
+	// which only intend to perform a type check, ie. `gno lint`.
+	PreprocessOnly bool
+}
+
 // NOTE: this isn't safe, should only be used for testing.
 func Store(
 	rootDir string,
-	withExtern bool,
 	stdin io.Reader,
 	stdout, stderr io.Writer,
 ) (
 	baseStore storetypes.CommitStore,
 	resStore gno.Store,
 ) {
+	return StoreWithOptions(rootDir, stdin, stdout, stderr, StoreOptions{})
+}
+
+// StoreWithOptions is a variant of [Store] which additionally accepts a
+// [StoreOptions] argument.
+func StoreWithOptions(
+	rootDir string,
+	stdin io.Reader,
+	stdout, stderr io.Writer,
+	opts StoreOptions,
+) (
+	baseStore storetypes.CommitStore,
+	resStore gno.Store,
+) {
+	processMemPackage := func(m *gno.Machine, memPkg *gnovm.MemPackage, save bool) (*gno.PackageNode, *gno.PackageValue) {
+		return m.RunMemPackage(memPkg, save)
+	}
+	if opts.PreprocessOnly {
+		processMemPackage = func(m *gno.Machine, memPkg *gnovm.MemPackage, save bool) (*gno.PackageNode, *gno.PackageValue) {
+			m.Store.AddMemPackage(memPkg)
+			return m.PreprocessFiles(memPkg.Name, memPkg.Path, gno.ParseMemPackage(memPkg), save, false)
+		}
+	}
 	getPackage := func(pkgPath string, store gno.Store) (pn *gno.PackageNode, pv *gno.PackageValue) {
 		if pkgPath == "" {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid zero package path in testStore().pkgGetter"))
 		}
 
-		if withExtern {
+		if opts.WithExtern {
 			// if _test package...
 			const testPath = "github.com/gnolang/gno/_test/"
 			if strings.HasPrefix(pkgPath, testPath) {
@@ -54,7 +88,7 @@ func Store(
 					Store:   store,
 					Context: ctx,
 				})
-				return m2.RunMemPackage(memPkg, true)
+				return processMemPackage(m2, memPkg, true)
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -129,7 +163,7 @@ func Store(
 		}
 
 		// Load normal stdlib.
-		pn, pv = loadStdlib(rootDir, pkgPath, store, stdout)
+		pn, pv = loadStdlib(rootDir, pkgPath, store, stdout, opts.PreprocessOnly)
 		if pn != nil {
 			return
 		}
@@ -150,8 +184,7 @@ func Store(
 				Store:   store,
 				Context: ctx,
 			})
-			pn, pv = m2.RunMemPackage(memPkg, true)
-			return
+			return processMemPackage(m2, memPkg, true)
 		}
 		return nil, nil
 	}
@@ -164,7 +197,7 @@ func Store(
 	return
 }
 
-func loadStdlib(rootDir, pkgPath string, store gno.Store, stdout io.Writer) (*gno.PackageNode, *gno.PackageValue) {
+func loadStdlib(rootDir, pkgPath string, store gno.Store, stdout io.Writer, preprocessOnly bool) (*gno.PackageNode, *gno.PackageValue) {
 	dirs := [...]string{
 		// Normal stdlib path.
 		filepath.Join(rootDir, "gnovm", "stdlibs", pkgPath),
@@ -202,6 +235,11 @@ func loadStdlib(rootDir, pkgPath string, store gno.Store, stdout io.Writer) (*gn
 		Output:  stdout,
 		Store:   store,
 	})
+	if preprocessOnly {
+		m2.Store.AddMemPackage(memPkg)
+		return m2.PreprocessFiles(memPkg.Name, memPkg.Path, gno.ParseMemPackage(memPkg), true, true)
+	}
+	// TODO: make this work when using gno lint.
 	return m2.RunMemPackageWithOverrides(memPkg, true)
 }
 
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/test/test.go b/gnovm/pkg/test/test.go
index d06540761d7..92a867e1886 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/test/test.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/test/test.go
@@ -139,10 +139,7 @@ func NewTestOptions(rootDir string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer) *
 		Output:  stdout,
 		Error:   stderr,
 	}
-	opts.BaseStore, opts.TestStore = Store(
-		rootDir, false,
-		stdin, opts.WriterForStore(), stderr,
-	)
+	opts.BaseStore, opts.TestStore = Store(rootDir, stdin, opts.WriterForStore(), stderr)
 	return opts
 }