diff --git a/app.go b/app.go
index 4b80278..a35c5ba 100644
--- a/app.go
+++ b/app.go
@@ -448,17 +448,6 @@ func (app *app) loop() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (app *app) exportFiles() {
-	var currFile string
-	if curr, err := app.nav.currFile(); err == nil {
-		currFile = curr.path
-	}
-
-	currSelections := app.nav.currSelections()
-
-	exportFiles(currFile, currSelections, app.nav.currDir().path)
-}
-
 // This function is used to run a shell command. Modes are as follows:
 //
 //     Prefix  Wait  Async  Stdin  Stdout  Stderr  UI action
@@ -467,7 +456,7 @@ func (app *app) exportFiles() {
 //     !       Yes   No     Yes    Yes     Yes     Pause and then resume
 //     &       No    Yes    No     No      No      Do nothing
 func (app *app) runShell(s string, args []string, prefix string) {
-	app.exportFiles()
+	app.nav.exportFiles()
 	exportOpts()
 
 	cmd := shellCommand(s, args)
diff --git a/nav.go b/nav.go
index 815e18e..79838e4 100644
--- a/nav.go
+++ b/nav.go
@@ -518,6 +518,17 @@ func (nav *nav) position() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (nav *nav) exportFiles() {
+	var currFile string
+	if curr, err := nav.currFile(); err == nil {
+		currFile = curr.path
+	}
+
+	currSelections := nav.currSelections()
+
+	exportFiles(currFile, currSelections, nav.currDir().path)
+}
+
 func (nav *nav) previewLoop(ui *ui) {
 	var prev string
 	for path := range nav.previewChan {
@@ -532,6 +543,8 @@ func (nav *nav) previewLoop(ui *ui) {
 			}
 		}
 		if clear && len(gOpts.previewer) != 0 && len(gOpts.cleaner) != 0 && nav.volatilePreview {
+			nav.exportFiles()
+			exportOpts()
 			cmd := exec.Command(gOpts.cleaner, prev)
 			if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 				log.Printf("cleaning preview: %s", err)
@@ -568,6 +581,7 @@ func (nav *nav) preview(path string, win *win) {
 	var reader io.Reader
 
 	if len(gOpts.previewer) != 0 {
+		nav.exportFiles()
 		exportOpts()
 		cmd := exec.Command(gOpts.previewer, path,
 			strconv.Itoa(win.w),