diff --git a/crates/engine/src/originals.rs b/crates/engine/src/originals.rs
index 59a5f6a2..d20d2fe8 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/originals.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/originals.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,17 @@ impl OriginalGuard {
                 }
             }
         }
+        // An imported symlink can have a different name from its original. A write to
+        // that original would change what the library reads through the link. Only do
+        // this fallback for existing targets that the name index did not protect.
+        for (p, what) in self.by_name.values().flatten() {
+            if std::fs::read_link(p).is_ok() && same_file(p, target) {
+                return Err(format!(
+                    "{} is {what} in the library: LightCraft never writes over an original (choose another folder or file name)",
+                    target.display()
+                ));
+            }
+        }
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
index dcd74cb4..42260133 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
@@ -323,3 +323,29 @@ fn a_failed_export_write_keeps_the_previous_file() {
     assert_ne!(std::fs::read(&prev).unwrap(), b"last week's export");
     let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
 }
+
+#[cfg(unix)]
+#[test]
+fn export_protects_the_target_of_an_imported_symlink() {
+    use crate::export::{Conflict, Destination};
+    let (original_session, _, dir, src, original) = library_with_jpeg("export-symlink-original");
+    drop(original_session);
+    let alias = dir.join("alias.jpg");
+    std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&src, &alias).unwrap();
+    let sidecar = dir.join("metadata.xmp");
+    std::fs::write(&sidecar, b"<x/>").unwrap();
+    std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&sidecar, alias.with_extension("xmp")).unwrap();
+    let mut s = Session::new().with_fs();
+    s.execute("library.import", &json!({"paths": [alias.to_string_lossy()]})).unwrap();
+    let id = s.catalog.photos().next().unwrap().id;
+    s.execute("develop.set", &json!({"ids": [id.0], "control": "light.exposure", "value": 1.0})).unwrap();
+    let o = ExportOptions { conflict: Conflict::Overwrite, ..Default::default() };
+    let to = Destination { dir: String::new(), exact: Some(src.to_string_lossy().to_string()) };
+    let result = disk_batch(&mut s, id, &o, &to);
+    assert!(result.is_err(), "export replaced the original through its imported alias: {result:?}");
+    assert_eq!(std::fs::read(&src).unwrap(), original);
+    assert!(s.execute("export.checkTarget", &json!({"path": src.to_string_lossy()})).is_err());
+    assert!(s.execute("export.checkTarget", &json!({"path": sidecar.to_string_lossy()})).is_err());
+    assert_eq!(std::fs::read(&sidecar).unwrap(), b"<x/>");
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
+}