diff --git a/src/compiler/emitter.ts b/src/compiler/emitter.ts
index 2d8377f74f8..17c54c9eb0a 100644
--- a/src/compiler/emitter.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/emitter.ts
@@ -2710,15 +2710,20 @@ var __param = (this && this.__param) || function (paramIndex, decorator) {
                     else {
                         if (node.flags & NodeFlags.Default) {
                             if (compilerOptions.module === ModuleKind.CommonJS || compilerOptions.module === ModuleKind.AMD || compilerOptions.module === ModuleKind.UMD) {
-                                write("Object.defineProperty(exports, \"__esModule\", {");
-                                writeLine();
-                                increaseIndent();
-                                // default value of configurable, enumerable, writable are `false`. 
-                                write("value: true");
-                                writeLine();
-                                decreaseIndent();
-                                write("};");
-                                writeLine();
+                                if (languageVersion >= ScriptTarget.ES5) {
+                                    write("Object.defineProperty(exports, \"__esModule\", {");
+                                    writeLine();
+                                    increaseIndent();
+                                    // default value of configurable, enumerable, writable are `false`. 
+                                    write("value: true");
+                                    writeLine();
+                                    decreaseIndent();
+                                    write("};");
+                                    writeLine();
+                                } else {
+                                    write("exports.__esModule = true;");
+                                    writeLine();
+                                }
                             }
                             if (languageVersion === ScriptTarget.ES3) {
                                 write("exports[\"default\"]");
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3-amd.js b/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3-amd.js
index 33630da60d2..d2293a56e23 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3-amd.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3-amd.js
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@ export default function f2() {
 define(["require", "exports"], function (require, exports) {
     function f1() {
     }
-    Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", {
-        value: true
-    };
+    exports.__esModule = true;
     exports["default"] = f1;
 });
 //// [m2.js]
@@ -26,8 +24,6 @@ define(["require", "exports", "./m1"], function (require, exports, m1_1) {
     function f2() {
         m1_1["default"]();
     }
-    Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", {
-        value: true
-    };
+    exports.__esModule = true;
     exports["default"] = f2;
 });
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3.js b/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3.js
index 60d2c39e203..1be548bc930 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/exportAndImport-es3.js
@@ -15,16 +15,12 @@ export default function f2() {
 //// [m1.js]
 function f1() {
 }
-Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", {
-    value: true
-};
+exports.__esModule = true;
 exports["default"] = f1;
 //// [m2.js]
 var m1_1 = require("./m1");
 function f2() {
     m1_1["default"]();
 }
-Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", {
-    value: true
-};
+exports.__esModule = true;
 exports["default"] = f2;