diff --git a/src/common/variables.c b/src/common/variables.c
index ff4b94d..14ef0bf 100644
--- a/src/common/variables.c
+++ b/src/common/variables.c
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ void dt_variables_params_init(dt_variables_params_t **params)
   memset((*params)->data ,0,sizeof(dt_variables_data_t));
   (*params)->data->time=time(NULL);
   (*params)->sequence = -1;
+  (*params)->progress = 0;
 }
 
 void dt_variables_params_destroy(dt_variables_params_t *params)
diff --git a/src/common/variables.h b/src/common/variables.h
index 126181f..26fbea3 100644
--- a/src/common/variables.h
+++ b/src/common/variables.h
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ typedef struct dt_variables_params_t
   /** used as thread-safe sequence number. only used if >= 0. */
   int sequence;
 
+  /** used as thread-safe progress counter */
+  int progress;
+
   /** internal variables data */
   struct dt_variables_data_t *data;
 
diff --git a/src/imageio/storage/disk.c b/src/imageio/storage/disk.c
index c373762..4468758 100644
--- a/src/imageio/storage/disk.c
+++ b/src/imageio/storage/disk.c
@@ -224,7 +224,10 @@ failed:
   printf("[export_job] exported to `%s'\n", filename);
   char *trunc = filename + strlen(filename) - 32;
   if(trunc < filename) trunc = filename;
-  dt_control_log(_("%d/%d exported to `%s%s'"), num, total, trunc != filename ? ".." : "", trunc);
+  dt_pthread_mutex_lock(&darktable.plugin_threadsafe);
+  d->vp->progress++;
+  dt_control_log(_("%d/%d exported to `%s%s'"), d->vp->progress, total, trunc != filename ? ".." : "", trunc);
+  dt_pthread_mutex_unlock(&darktable.plugin_threadsafe);
   return 0;
 }