diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs
index a9e0aed35..77fde102b 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/mod.rs
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ pub fn file_stem(name: &str) -> String {
 /// (the title PDF, PNG and SVG metadata carry). A title of its own stays, and native files keep
 /// the stored title.
 pub fn has_own_title(doc: &vectorcraft_doc::Document) -> bool {
-    !doc.title.strip_prefix("Untitled-").is_some_and(|n| !n.is_empty() && n.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_digit()))
+    !doc.title.trim().is_empty() && !doc.title.strip_prefix("Untitled-").is_some_and(|n| !n.is_empty() && n.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_digit()))
 }
 
 pub fn titled_for_export(doc: &vectorcraft_doc::Document, path: Option<&str>, format: &str) -> Option<vectorcraft_doc::Document> {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/pdf.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/pdf.rs
index 1154fe80a..df512f629 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/pdf.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/fileio/pdf.rs
@@ -399,6 +399,8 @@ fn export_pdf(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let mut q = p.clone();
     if let Some(o) = q.as_object_mut() {
         o.insert("_displayDocTitle".into(), json!(display_doc_title));
+    } else {
+        q = json!({ "_displayDocTitle": display_doc_title });
     }
     let (bytes, warnings) = encode(C, titled.as_ref().unwrap_or(&st.doc), &q)?;
     write_or_return(str_param(p, "path"), &bytes, json!({ "warnings": warnings }))
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_fileinfo.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_fileinfo.rs
index d9fd1854c..09d1efd17 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_fileinfo.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_fileinfo.rs
@@ -316,6 +316,11 @@ fn an_untitled_document_saved_to_a_file_exports_titled_after_it() {
     for pdf in pdf_texts(&mut untitled) {
         assert!(!pdf.contains("/DisplayDocTitle true"), "{pdf}");
     }
+    // An explicitly empty document title is also not a title to display.
+    std::sync::Arc::make_mut(&mut untitled.doc_mut().unwrap().doc).title.clear();
+    for pdf in pdf_texts(&mut untitled) {
+        assert!(!pdf.contains("/DisplayDocTitle true"), "{pdf}");
+    }
 
     // Saved as a file, then exported: Untitled-1 was only the name New gave it.
     let mut s = Session::new();
@@ -324,6 +329,9 @@ fn an_untitled_document_saved_to_a_file_exports_titled_after_it() {
     for pdf in pdf_texts(&mut s) {
         assert!(pdf.contains("/Title(Document C)") && xmp_title(&pdf).contains("Document C"), "{}", xmp_title(&pdf));
     }
+    // Non-object parameters still preserve that the file-stem title was not user supplied.
+    let pdf = String::from_utf8_lossy(&b64(&s.execute("document.exportPdf", &Value::Null).unwrap())).into_owned();
+    assert!(!pdf.contains("/DisplayDocTitle true"), "{pdf}");
     // Opened from that file, in another session.
     let mut s = Session::new();
     s.execute("document.open", &json!({"path": path.to_str().unwrap()})).unwrap();