Nearly planar molecules of the title compound, C9H6IN, are packed in inclined stacks along the short crystallographic b axis and molecules in adjacent stacks are packed to form antiparallel zigzag chains. Short intermolecular N...I contacts [3.131 (3) A] are observed between molecules in adjacent stacks. A network of C-H...pi hydrogen bonds [2.821 (5) and 3.083 (3) A] between molecules in adjacent stacks is also present. These motif-generating interactions, including the weak C-H...pi interactions, are of relevance in crystal engineering and design.