diff --git a/compiler/docgen.nim b/compiler/docgen.nim
index 5eaaed12041df..5392f1edf7c3a 100644
--- a/compiler/docgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/docgen.nim
@@ -630,8 +630,12 @@ proc genDeprecationMsg(d: PDoc, n: PNode): Rope =
   else:
     doAssert false
 
-proc genItem(d: PDoc, n, nameNode: PNode, k: TSymKind) =
-  if not isVisible(d, nameNode): return
+type DocFlags = enum
+  kDefault
+  kForceExport
+
+proc genItem(d: PDoc, n, nameNode: PNode, k: TSymKind, docFlags: DocFlags) =
+  if (docFlags != kForceExport) and not isVisible(d, nameNode): return
   let
     name = getName(d, nameNode)
     nameRope = name.rope
@@ -847,7 +851,9 @@ proc documentRaises*(cache: IdentCache; n: PNode) =
     if p4 != nil: n[pragmasPos].add p4
     if p5 != nil: n[pragmasPos].add p5
 
-proc generateDoc*(d: PDoc, n, orig: PNode) =
+proc generateDoc*(d: PDoc, n, orig: PNode, docFlags: DocFlags = kDefault) =
+  template genItemAux(skind) =
+    genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skind, docFlags)
   case n.kind
   of nkPragma:
     let pragmaNode = findPragma(n, wDeprecated)
@@ -855,27 +861,27 @@ proc generateDoc*(d: PDoc, n, orig: PNode) =
   of nkCommentStmt: d.modDesc.add(genComment(d, n))
   of nkProcDef:
     when useEffectSystem: documentRaises(d.cache, n)
-    genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skProc)
+    genItemAux(skProc)
   of nkFuncDef:
     when useEffectSystem: documentRaises(d.cache, n)
-    genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skFunc)
+    genItemAux(skFunc)
   of nkMethodDef:
     when useEffectSystem: documentRaises(d.cache, n)
-    genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skMethod)
+    genItemAux(skMethod)
   of nkIteratorDef:
     when useEffectSystem: documentRaises(d.cache, n)
-    genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skIterator)
-  of nkMacroDef: genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skMacro)
-  of nkTemplateDef: genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skTemplate)
+    genItemAux(skIterator)
+  of nkMacroDef: genItemAux(skMacro)
+  of nkTemplateDef: genItemAux(skTemplate)
   of nkConverterDef:
     when useEffectSystem: documentRaises(d.cache, n)
-    genItem(d, n, n[namePos], skConverter)
+    genItemAux(skConverter)
   of nkTypeSection, nkVarSection, nkLetSection, nkConstSection:
     for i in 0..<n.len:
       if n[i].kind != nkCommentStmt:
         # order is always 'type var let const':
         genItem(d, n[i], n[i][0],
-                succ(skType, ord(n.kind)-ord(nkTypeSection)))
+                succ(skType, ord(n.kind)-ord(nkTypeSection)), docFlags)
   of nkStmtList:
     for i in 0..<n.len: generateDoc(d, n[i], orig)
   of nkWhenStmt:
@@ -886,7 +892,12 @@ proc generateDoc*(d: PDoc, n, orig: PNode) =
     for it in n: traceDeps(d, it)
   of nkExportStmt:
     for it in n:
-      if it.kind == nkSym: exportSym(d, it.sym)
+      if it.kind == nkSym:
+        let ast = it.sym.ast
+        if it.info.fileIndex == ast.info.fileIndex:
+          generateDoc(d, ast, orig, kForceExport)
+        else:
+          exportSym(d, it.sym)
   of nkExportExceptStmt: discard "transformed into nkExportStmt by semExportExcept"
   of nkFromStmt, nkImportExceptStmt: traceDeps(d, n[0])
   of nkCallKinds: