diff --git a/jrnl/jrnl.py b/jrnl/jrnl.py
index e4cbe7f0..388dffec 100644
--- a/jrnl/jrnl.py
+++ b/jrnl/jrnl.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2012-2021 jrnl contributors
 # License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
 
-from argparse import Namespace
 import logging
 import sys
 
 from . import install
 from . import plugins
-from .Journal import Journal, open_journal
+from .Journal import open_journal
 from .color import ERROR_COLOR
 from .color import RESET_COLOR
 from .config import get_journal_name
@@ -327,8 +326,8 @@ def _display_search_results(args, journal, **kwargs):
         print(plugins.get_exporter("tags").export(journal))
 
     elif args.export:
-        _export_journal(args, journal)
-
+        exporter = plugins.get_exporter(args.export)
+        print(exporter.export(journal, args.filename))
     elif kwargs["config"].get("display_format"):
         exporter = plugins.get_exporter(kwargs["config"]["display_format"])
         print(exporter.export(journal, args.filename))
diff --git a/tests/test_display.py b/tests/test_display.py
index 95d8606a..72a9c451 100644
--- a/tests/test_display.py
+++ b/tests/test_display.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ import argparse
 import jrnl
 import pytest
 from unittest import mock
-from jrnl.jrnl import _display_search_results, _export_journal
+from jrnl.jrnl import _display_search_results
 
 
 # fmt: off
 # see: https://github.com/psf/black/issues/664
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("export_format", [ "pretty", "short",])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("export_format", [ "pretty", "short","markdown"])
 #fmt: on
 @mock.patch.object(argparse, "Namespace", return_value={"export": "markdown", "filename": "irrele.vant"})
 def test_export_format(mock_args, export_format):
@@ -21,22 +21,3 @@ def test_export_format(mock_args, export_format):
         _display_search_results(mock_args, test_journal)
     mock_spy_print.assert_called_once_with(mock_pprint())
     #fmt: on
-
-
-@mock.patch.object(argparse, "Namespace", return_value={"export": "markdown", "filename": "foo.jrnl"})
-def test_export_plugin(mock_args):
-    export_format =  mock_args.return_value["export"]
-
-    test_journal = jrnl.Journal.Journal
-    mock_args.export = export_format
-    mock_args.filename = mock_args.return_value['filename']
-
-    # fmt: off
-    # see: https://github.com/psf/black/issues/664
-    with mock.patch("builtins.print") as print_spy, \
-    mock.patch("jrnl.plugins.get_exporter") as mock_get_exporter, \
-    mock.patch("jrnl.Journal.Journal.pprint") :
-        _export_journal(mock_args, test_journal)
-    # fmt: on
-    mock_get_exporter.assert_called_once_with(export_format)
-    print_spy.assert_called_once_with(mock_get_exporter().export(test_journal,mock_args.filename))