diff --git a/src/transformers/CJSImportTransformer.ts b/src/transformers/CJSImportTransformer.ts
index fa367ee2..075008ac 100644
--- a/src/transformers/CJSImportTransformer.ts
+++ b/src/transformers/CJSImportTransformer.ts
@@ -678,14 +678,16 @@ export default class CJSImportTransformer extends Transformer {
    * For example, this:
    * export const {x: [a = 2, b], c} = d;
    * becomes this:
-   * ({x: [exports.a = 2, exports.b], c: exports.c} = d;)
+   * ;({x: [exports.a = 2, exports.b], c: exports.c} = d;)
    */
   private processComplexExportVar(): void {
     this.tokens.removeInitialToken();
     this.tokens.removeToken();
     const needsParens = this.tokens.matches1(tt.braceL);
     if (needsParens) {
-      this.tokens.appendCode("(");
+      this.tokens.appendCode(";(");
+    } else if (this.tokens.matches1(tt.bracketL)) {
+      this.tokens.appendCode(";");
     }
 
     let depth = 0;
diff --git a/test/imports-test.ts b/test/imports-test.ts
index 4005c60f..a7640a22 100644
--- a/test/imports-test.ts
+++ b/test/imports-test.ts
@@ -1259,13 +1259,13 @@ module.exports = exports.default;
       export let {y}: Foo = z;
     `,
       `"use strict";${ESMODULE_PREFIX}
-      ( {a: exports.a = 2, b: [exports.c, exports.d], ...exports.e} = f);
-       [exports.g = 3, ...exports.h] = i;
-      ( {j: exports.j} = k);
-      ( {l: exports.l = () => {const m = 3;}} = {});
+      ;( {a: exports.a = 2, b: [exports.c, exports.d], ...exports.e} = f);
+      ; [exports.g = 3, ...exports.h] = i;
+      ;( {j: exports.j} = k);
+      ;( {l: exports.l = () => {const m = 3;}} = {});
        exports.x;
       exports.x = 2;
-      ( {y: exports.y} = z);
+      ;( {y: exports.y} = z);
     `,
       {transforms: ["imports", "typescript"]},
     );