diff --git a/src/session.rs b/src/session.rs
index 93d15d7..1f7e2eb 100644
--- a/src/session.rs
+++ b/src/session.rs
@@ -513,9 +513,7 @@ fn cmd_session_export(
                 includes: crate::export::parse_export_includes(include)?,
             };
             if let Some(path) = output {
-                ensure_parent_dir(&path)?;
-                let file = fs::File::create(&path)?;
-                crate::export::write_jsonl(&store, &options, file)?;
+                write_jsonl_file(&store, &options, &path)?;
             } else {
                 let stdout = std::io::stdout();
                 let handle = stdout.lock();
@@ -984,6 +982,65 @@ fn ensure_parent_dir(path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn write_jsonl_file(store: &Store, options: &ExportOptions, path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
+    ensure_parent_dir(path)?;
+    let target = resolve_output_target(path)?;
+    let path = target.as_path();
+    let parent = path
+        .parent()
+        .filter(|parent| !parent.as_os_str().is_empty())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| Path::new("."));
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    let mut builder = tempfile::Builder::new();
+    #[cfg(not(unix))]
+    let builder = tempfile::Builder::new();
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    let existing_permissions = match fs::metadata(path) {
+        Ok(metadata) => Some(fs::Permissions::from_mode(metadata.permissions().mode() & 0o777)),
+        Err(error) if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => None,
+        Err(error) => return Err(error.into()),
+    };
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    if existing_permissions.is_none() {
+        builder.permissions(fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o666));
+    }
+    let mut temp = builder.tempfile_in(parent)?;
+    crate::export::write_jsonl(store, options, temp.as_file_mut())?;
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    if let Some(permissions) = existing_permissions {
+        temp.as_file().set_permissions(permissions)?;
+    }
+    temp.as_file().sync_all()?;
+    temp.persist(path).map_err(|error| error.error)?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn resolve_output_target(path: &Path) -> Result<PathBuf> {
+    let mut target = path.to_path_buf();
+    for _ in 0..40 {
+        match fs::symlink_metadata(&target) {
+            Ok(metadata) if metadata.file_type().is_symlink() => {
+                let link = fs::read_link(&target)?;
+                target = if link.is_absolute() {
+                    link
+                } else {
+                    target
+                        .parent()
+                        .filter(|parent| !parent.as_os_str().is_empty())
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| Path::new("."))
+                        .join(link)
+                };
+            }
+            Ok(_) => return Ok(target),
+            Err(error) if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => return Ok(target),
+            Err(error) => return Err(error.into()),
+        }
+    }
+    anyhow::bail!("too many symbolic links in output path: {}", path.display())
+}
+
 fn read_tldr_file(path: &Path) -> Option<String> {
     match fs::read_to_string(path) {
         Ok(content) => {
@@ -1037,4 +1094,51 @@ mod tests {
 
         let _ = fs::remove_file(path);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn jsonl_file_export_replaces_target_only_after_success() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let target_path = dir.path().join("export.jsonl");
+        fs::write(&target_path, "keep").unwrap();
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        {
+            use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+            fs::set_permissions(&target_path, fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o640)).unwrap();
+        }
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        let path = {
+            let path = dir.path().join("export-link.jsonl");
+            std::os::unix::fs::symlink("export.jsonl", &path).unwrap();
+            path
+        };
+        #[cfg(not(unix))]
+        let path = target_path.clone();
+        crate::db::schema::register_sqlite_vec();
+        let store = Store::open_in_memory().unwrap();
+        let mut options = ExportOptions {
+            session_ids: vec!["missing".to_string()],
+            sources: None,
+            time_range: TimeRange::All,
+            scope: ProjectScope::Global,
+            thread_role: None,
+            limit: None,
+            includes: ExportIncludes::full(),
+        };
+
+        assert!(write_jsonl_file(&store, &options, &path).is_err());
+        assert_eq!(fs::read_to_string(&target_path).unwrap(), "keep");
+
+        options.session_ids.clear();
+        write_jsonl_file(&store, &options, &path).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(fs::read_to_string(&target_path).unwrap(), "");
+        #[cfg(unix)]
+        {
+            use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+            assert!(fs::symlink_metadata(&path).unwrap().file_type().is_symlink());
+            assert_eq!(fs::read_dir(dir.path()).unwrap().count(), 2);
+            assert_eq!(fs::metadata(target_path).unwrap().permissions().mode() & 0o777, 0o640);
+        }
+        #[cfg(not(unix))]
+        assert_eq!(fs::read_dir(dir.path()).unwrap().count(), 1);
+    }
 }