diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/keywords.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/keywords.rs
index fe09a92f9..676979c76 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/keywords.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/keywords.rs
@@ -445,7 +445,10 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
                 let mut r = json!({"keywords": file.written.len(), "captureOneRefuses": refuses, "unwritable": file.unwritable});
                 match str_param(p, "path").map(str::trim).filter(|x| !x.is_empty()) {
                     Some(path) => {
-                        std::fs::write(path, &file.text).map_err(|e| crate::EngineError::Other(format!("{path}: {e}")))?;
+                        s.check_write_target(path).map_err(|e| bad("keyword.export", e))?;
+                        // A folder that isn't there is an error, not created.
+                        lightcraft_catalog::safe_file::write_atomic(std::path::Path::new(path), file.text.as_bytes())
+                            .map_err(|e| crate::EngineError::Other(format!("{path}: {e}")))?;
                         r["path"] = json!(path);
                     }
                     None => r["text"] = json!(file.text),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
index 4830490b5..18eb134ab 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
@@ -313,6 +313,30 @@ fn curve_preset_export_never_overwrites_originals_or_sidecars() {
     preset_export_preserves_originals("curve.exportPresets", json!({"names": ["Linear"]}), "curve-export-guard");
 }
 
+/// #1944: Export Keywords went straight to `std::fs::write`, replacing a library original.
+#[test]
+fn keyword_export_never_overwrites_originals_or_sidecars() {
+    preset_export_preserves_originals("keyword.export", json!({}), "keyword-export-guard");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn keyword_export_preserves_the_previous_file_on_write_failure() {
+    let dir = temp_dir("keyword-export-failure");
+    let mut s = Session::with_demo();
+    let path = dir.join("keywords.txt");
+    let params = json!({"path": path.to_string_lossy()});
+    s.execute("keyword.export", &params).unwrap();
+    let previous = std::fs::read(&path).unwrap();
+    {
+        let _fault = lightcraft_catalog::safe_file::fail_writes_after(4);
+        assert!(s.execute("keyword.export", &params).is_err(), "keyword.export must report the failed write");
+    }
+    assert_eq!(std::fs::read(&path).unwrap(), previous, "the prior export is kept");
+    s.execute("keyword.export", &params).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(std::fs::read_dir(&dir).unwrap().count(), 1, "no temporary files remain");
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn preset_exports_preserve_previous_files_on_write_failure() {
     let dir = temp_dir("preset-export-failure");