The title compound, C17H14N2O, crystallizes as a cis formamide isomer. The isoquinoline and benzene fragments are nearly perpendicular [dihedral angle = 81.79 (18)°], whereas the formamide group is virtually coplanar with the isoquinoline unit [dihedral angle = 1.66 (15)°]. Intermolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link molecules into a centrosymmetric dimer