diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 22ea7d59c..323eef9c3 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -394,8 +394,8 @@ func (c *Client) ExportCSV(ctx context.Context, index, frame, view string, slice
 		return ErrIndexRequired
 	} else if frame == "" {
 		return ErrFrameRequired
-	} else if view == "" {
-		view = ViewStandard
+	} else if view != ViewInverse || view != ViewStandard {
+		return ErrInvalidView
 	}
 
 	// Retrieve a list of nodes that own the slice.
diff --git a/cmd/export.go b/cmd/export.go
index 3572ffb7c..e55f84e59 100644
--- a/cmd/export.go
+++ b/cmd/export.go
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ The file does not contain any headers.
 	flags := exportCmd.Flags()
 
 	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.Host, "host", "", "localhost:10101", "host:port of Pilosa.")
-	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.Index, "index", "i", "", "Pilosa index to export into.")
-	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.Frame, "frame", "f", "", "Frame to export into.")
-	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.View, "view", "v", "", "View to export into - default standard")
+	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.Index, "index", "i", "", "Pilosa index to export")
+	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.Frame, "frame", "f", "", "Frame to export")
+	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.View, "view", "v", "standard", "View to export - default standard")
 	flags.StringVarP(&Exporter.Path, "output-file", "o", "", "File to write export to - default stdout")
 
 	return exportCmd
diff --git a/cmd/export_test.go b/cmd/export_test.go
index 2b30116c6..2d01cf4d6 100644
--- a/cmd/export_test.go
+++ b/cmd/export_test.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ frame = "f1"
 				v.Check(cmd.Exporter.Host, "localhost:12345")
 				v.Check(cmd.Exporter.Index, "myindex")
 				v.Check(cmd.Exporter.Frame, "f1")
+				v.Check(cmd.Exporter.View, "standard")
 				v.Check(cmd.Exporter.Path, "/somefile")
 				return v.Error()
 			},
@@ -51,3 +52,10 @@ frame = "f1"
 	}
 	executeDry(t, tests)
 }
+
+func TestExportInvalidView(t *testing.T) {
+	output, err := ExecNewRootCommand(t, "export", "-i", "foo", "-f", "bar", "-v", "test")
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "invalid view") {
+		t.Fatalf("Command 'export' with invalid view should error but: err: '%v', output: '%v'", err, output)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ctl/export.go b/ctl/export.go
index 3ad665551..8b2d6cd35 100644
--- a/ctl/export.go
+++ b/ctl/export.go
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ func (cmd *ExportCommand) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return pilosa.ErrIndexRequired
 	} else if cmd.Frame == "" {
 		return pilosa.ErrFrameRequired
-	} else if cmd.View == "" {
-		cmd.View = pilosa.ViewStandard
+	} else if cmd.View != pilosa.ViewStandard || cmd.View != pilosa.ViewInverse {
+		return pilosa.ErrInvalidView
 	}
 
 	// Use output file, if specified.