diff --git a/Src/builtin.c b/Src/builtin.c
index 2453f82c0..e863cc4bb 100644
--- a/Src/builtin.c
+++ b/Src/builtin.c
@@ -2171,7 +2171,7 @@ typeset_single(char *cname, char *pname, Param pm, UNUSED(int func),
 	    !ASG_VALUEP(asg))
 	    on |= PM_UNSET;
 	else if (usepm && (pm->node.flags & PM_READONLY) &&
-		 !(on & PM_READONLY)) {
+		 !(on & PM_READONLY) && func != BIN_EXPORT) {
 	    zerr("read-only variable: %s", pm->node.nam);
 	    return NULL;
 	}