diff --git a/godotenv.go b/godotenv.go
index 7b215ea..dd1b4ca 100644
--- a/godotenv.go
+++ b/godotenv.go
@@ -70,7 +70,11 @@ func parseLine(line string) (key string, value string, err error) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	key = strings.Trim(splitString[0], " ")
+	key = splitString[0]
+	if strings.HasPrefix(key, "export") {
+		key = strings.TrimPrefix(key, "export")
+	}
+	key = strings.Trim(key, " ")
 
 	value = strings.Trim(splitString[1], " \"'")
 	value = strings.Replace(value, "\\\"", "\"", -1)
diff --git a/godotenv_test.go b/godotenv_test.go
index eaf0bf3..66ab7b4 100644
--- a/godotenv_test.go
+++ b/godotenv_test.go
@@ -67,4 +67,7 @@ func TestParsing(t *testing.T) {
 	// parses yaml style options
 	parseAndCompare(t, "OPTION_A: 1", "OPTION_A", "1")
 
+	// parses export keyword
+	parseAndCompare(t, "export OPTION_A=2", "OPTION_A", "2")
+
 }