diff --git a/panels.module b/panels.module
index 3ea7e67..7194874 100644
--- a/panels.module
+++ b/panels.module
@@ -969,6 +969,12 @@ function panels_delete_display($display) {
 function panels_export_display($display, $prefix = '') {
   ctools_include('export');
   $output = ctools_export_object('panels_display', $display, $prefix);
+  
+  global $pid_counter;
+  if(!isset($pid_counter) || empty($pid_counter))
+  {
+    $pid_counter = 0;
+  }
 
   // Initialize empty properties.
   $output .= $prefix . '$display->content = array()' . ";\n";
@@ -977,7 +983,6 @@ function panels_export_display($display, $prefix = '') {
 
   $title_pid = 0;
   if (!empty($display->content)) {
-    $pid_counter = 0;
     $region_counters = array();
     foreach ($display->content as $pane) {
       $pid = 'new-' . ++$pid_counter;