diff --git a/onadata/apps/viewer/models/data_dictionary.py b/onadata/apps/viewer/models/data_dictionary.py
index 7bc55529c8..2d3845dfba 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/viewer/models/data_dictionary.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/viewer/models/data_dictionary.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
     PROJ_FORMS_CACHE,
     safe_delete,
 )
+from onadata.libs.utils.common_tags import EXPORT_REPEAT_REGISTER
 from onadata.libs.utils.model_tools import get_columns_with_hxl, set_uuid
 
 
@@ -438,3 +439,21 @@ def invalidate_caches(sender, instance=None, created=False, **kwargs):
     sender=DataDictionary,
     dispatch_uid="xform_invalidate_caches",
 )
+
+
+def create_export_repeat_register(sender, instance=None, created=False, **kwargs):
+    """Create export repeat register for the form"""
+    if created:
+        MetaData.objects.create(
+            content_type=ContentType.objects.get_for_model(instance),
+            object_id=instance.pk,
+            data_type=EXPORT_REPEAT_REGISTER,
+            data_value="",
+        )
+
+
+post_save.connect(
+    create_export_repeat_register,
+    sender=DataDictionary,
+    dispatch_uid="create_export_repeat_register",
+)
diff --git a/onadata/apps/viewer/models/tests/test_data_dictionary.py b/onadata/apps/viewer/models/tests/test_data_dictionary.py
index e292faddd1..1ac6c4197e 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/viewer/models/tests/test_data_dictionary.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/viewer/models/tests/test_data_dictionary.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import json
 
+from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from django.core.cache import cache
 
 from onadata.apps.logger.models.entity_list import EntityList
@@ -307,3 +308,16 @@ def test_cache_invalidated(self):
 
         for key in cache_keys:
             self.assertIsNone(cache.get(key))
+
+    def test_export_repeat_register_created(self):
+        """Export repeat register is created when form is published"""
+        self._publish_markdown(self.registration_form, self.user)
+        xform = XForm.objects.all().order_by("-pk").first()
+        content_type = ContentType.objects.get_for_model(xform)
+        exists = MetaData.objects.filter(
+            data_type="export_repeat_register",
+            object_id=xform.pk,
+            content_type=content_type,
+        ).exists()
+
+        self.assertTrue(exists)