diff --git a/zerver/lib/export.py b/zerver/lib/export.py
index 533d2a3809..997f2cf4da 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/export.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/export.py
@@ -2418,9 +2418,15 @@ def export_realm_wrapper(
 
 
 def get_realm_exports_serialized(user: UserProfile) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    # Exclude exports made via shell. 'acting_user=None', since they
+    # aren't supported in the current API format.
+    #
+    # TODO: We should return those via the API as well, with an
+    # appropriate way to express for who issued them; this requires an
+    # API change.
     all_exports = RealmAuditLog.objects.filter(
         realm=user.realm, event_type=RealmAuditLog.REALM_EXPORTED
-    )
+    ).exclude(acting_user=None)
     exports_dict = {}
     for export in all_exports:
         export_url = None
diff --git a/zerver/management/commands/export.py b/zerver/management/commands/export.py
index ac2196d78b..20dd19e7ed 100644
--- a/zerver/management/commands/export.py
+++ b/zerver/management/commands/export.py
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@ from typing import Any
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.management.base import CommandError
+from django.utils.timezone import now as timezone_now
 from typing_extensions import override
 
 from zerver.actions.realm_settings import do_deactivate_realm
 from zerver.lib.export import export_realm_wrapper
 from zerver.lib.management import ZulipBaseCommand
-from zerver.models import Message, Reaction, UserProfile
+from zerver.models import Message, Reaction, RealmAuditLog, UserProfile
 
 
 class Command(ZulipBaseCommand):
@@ -206,6 +207,13 @@ class Command(ZulipBaseCommand):
         def percent_callback(bytes_transferred: Any) -> None:
             print(end=".", flush=True)
 
+        RealmAuditLog.objects.create(
+            acting_user=None,
+            realm=realm,
+            event_type=RealmAuditLog.REALM_EXPORTED,
+            event_time=timezone_now(),
+        )
+
         # Allows us to trigger exports separately from command line argument parsing
         export_realm_wrapper(
             realm=realm,