diff --git a/gns3server/api/routes/controller/projects.py b/gns3server/api/routes/controller/projects.py
index cea7c91f3..37c7e35b4 100644
--- a/gns3server/api/routes/controller/projects.py
+++ b/gns3server/api/routes/controller/projects.py
@@ -330,6 +330,9 @@ async def export_project(
     Required privilege: Project.Audit
     """
 
+    if project.is_running():
+        raise ControllerError("Project must be stopped in order to export it")
+
     compression_query = compression.lower()
     if compression_query == "zip":
         compression = zipfile.ZIP_DEFLATED