diff --git a/question/format.php b/question/format.php
index 7f4a118b51e..2b9875e66ab 100644
--- a/question/format.php
+++ b/question/format.php
@@ -959,17 +959,18 @@ class qformat_default {
             $contextid = $DB->get_field('question_categories', 'contextid', ['id' => $qcategory]);
             $question->contextid = $contextid;
             $question->idnumber = $questionbankentry->idnumber;
+
+            // Do not export hidden questions.
+            if ($question->status === \core_question\local\bank\question_version_status::QUESTION_STATUS_HIDDEN) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
             if ($question->status === \core_question\local\bank\question_version_status::QUESTION_STATUS_READY) {
                 $question->status = 0;
             } else {
                 $question->status = 1;
             }
 
-            // do not export hidden questions
-            if (!empty($question->hidden)) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
             // do not export random questions
             if ($question->qtype == 'random') {
                 continue;