diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.hh b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
index 053bece7a3..a82fe32216 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.hh
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ Path addPermRoot(StoreAPI & store, const Path & storePath,
 
 
 /* Sort a set of paths topologically under the references relation.
-   If p refers to q, then p follows q in this list. */
+   If p refers to q, then p preceeds q in this list. */
 Paths topoSortPaths(StoreAPI & store, const PathSet & paths);
 
 
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 151ed97e4b..5bd8558361 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -694,7 +694,9 @@ static void opExport(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         else throw UsageError(format("unknown flag `%1%'") % *i);
 
     FdSink sink(STDOUT_FILENO);
-    exportPaths(*store, opArgs, sign, sink);
+    Paths sorted = topoSortPaths(*store, PathSet(opArgs.begin(), opArgs.end()));
+    reverse(sorted.begin(), sorted.end());
+    exportPaths(*store, sorted, sign, sink);
 }