diff --git a/src/printers.ts b/src/printers.ts
index 78f75c3c..a81e446b 100644
--- a/src/printers.ts
+++ b/src/printers.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ function embed(path: AstPath<NodeType>, options: PluginOptions<NodeType>) {
         );
 
         const printed = printTemplateTag(content);
+
+        if (options.templateExportDefault && path.parent?.type === 'Program') {
+          printed.unshift('export ', 'default ');
+        }
+
         saveCurrentPrintOnSiblingNode(path, printed);
         return printed;
       } catch (error) {
diff --git a/tests/unit-tests/config/__snapshots__/template-export-default.test.ts.snap b/tests/unit-tests/config/__snapshots__/template-export-default.test.ts.snap
index c10016e6..2393ac58 100644
--- a/tests/unit-tests/config/__snapshots__/template-export-default.test.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/unit-tests/config/__snapshots__/template-export-default.test.ts.snap
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ exports[`config > templateExportDefault: true > it formats ../cases/gjs/one-line
 
 exports[`config > templateExportDefault: true > it formats ../cases/gjs/preceded-by-object.gjs 1`] = `
 "const foo = {};
-<template>hello</template>
+export default <template>hello</template>
 "
 `;
 
@@ -276,12 +276,12 @@ export default Route(
 `;
 
 exports[`config > templateExportDefault: true > it formats ../cases/gjs/simple.gjs 1`] = `
-"<template>what</template>
+"export default <template>what</template>
 "
 `;
 
 exports[`config > templateExportDefault: true > it formats ../cases/gjs/simple-with-tag.gjs 1`] = `
-"<template>
+"export default <template>
   <h1>what</h1>
 </template>
 
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ export default class PooComponent extends Component {
 `;
 
 exports[`config > templateExportDefault: true > it formats ../cases/gts/issue-191-b.gts 1`] = `
-"<template>💩</template>
+"export default <template>💩</template>
 "
 `;