diff --git a/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md b/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md
index e416e813f..7c81160dd 100644
--- a/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md
+++ b/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@
 | `:line-ending` | Set the document's default line ending. Options: crlf, lf. |
 | `:earlier`, `:ear` | Jump back to an earlier point in edit history. Accepts a number of steps or a time span. |
 | `:later`, `:lat` | Jump to a later point in edit history. Accepts a number of steps or a time span. |
-| `:write-quit`, `:wq`, `:x` | Write changes to disk and close the current view. Accepts an optional path (:wq some/path.txt) |
-| `:write-quit!`, `:wq!`, `:x!` | Write changes to disk and close the current view forcefully. Accepts an optional path (:wq! some/path.txt) |
+| `:write-quit`, `:wq` | Write changes to disk and close the current view. Accepts an optional path (:wq some/path.txt) |
+| `:write-quit!`, `:wq!` | Write changes to disk and close the current view forcefully. Accepts an optional path (:wq! some/path.txt) |
+| `:exit`, `:xit`, `:x`, `:x!` | Save the current view if named and modified (but not externally), then quit. |
 | `:write-all`, `:wa` | Write changes from all buffers to disk. |
 | `:write-all!`, `:wa!` | Forcefully write changes from all buffers to disk creating necessary subdirectories. |
 | `:write-quit-all`, `:wqa`, `:xa` | Write changes from all buffers to disk and close all views. |
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
index 82cad8386..db7508b71 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
@@ -728,6 +728,28 @@ fn force_write_quit(
     force_quit(cx, Args::default(), event)
 }
 
+/// exit command: Write only if named and modified (but not externally), then quit.
+fn write_exit(cx: &mut compositor::Context, _args: Args, event: PromptEvent) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    if event != PromptEvent::Validate {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    let (_, doc) = current!(cx.editor);
+
+    // Current document named and modified?
+    // Write changes if not externally modified already.
+    if doc.is_modified() {
+        if doc.path().is_some() && !doc.externally_overwritten() {
+            write_impl(cx, None, false)?;
+            cx.block_try_flush_writes()?;
+        } else {
+            doc.reset_modified();
+        }
+    }
+
+    quit(cx, Args::default(), event)
+}
+
 /// Results in an error if there are modified buffers remaining and sets editor
 /// error, otherwise returns `Ok(())`. If the current document is unmodified,
 /// and there are modified documents, switches focus to one of them.
@@ -2906,7 +2928,7 @@ pub const TYPABLE_COMMAND_LIST: &[TypableCommand] = &[
     },
     TypableCommand {
         name: "write-quit",
-        aliases: &["wq", "x"],
+        aliases: &["wq"],
         doc: "Write changes to disk and close the current view. Accepts an optional path (:wq some/path.txt)",
         fun: write_quit,
         completer: CommandCompleter::positional(&[completers::filename]),
@@ -2918,7 +2940,7 @@ pub const TYPABLE_COMMAND_LIST: &[TypableCommand] = &[
     },
     TypableCommand {
         name: "write-quit!",
-        aliases: &["wq!", "x!"],
+        aliases: &["wq!"],
         doc: "Write changes to disk and close the current view forcefully. Accepts an optional path (:wq! some/path.txt)",
         fun: force_write_quit,
         completer: CommandCompleter::positional(&[completers::filename]),
@@ -2928,6 +2950,17 @@ pub const TYPABLE_COMMAND_LIST: &[TypableCommand] = &[
             ..Signature::DEFAULT
         },
     },
+    TypableCommand {
+        name: "exit",
+        aliases: &["xit", "x", "x!"],
+        doc: "Save the current view if named and modified (but not externally), then quit.",
+        fun: write_exit,
+        completer: CommandCompleter::none(),
+        signature: Signature {
+            positionals: (0, Some(0)),
+            ..Signature::DEFAULT
+        },
+    },
     TypableCommand {
         name: "write-all",
         aliases: &["wa"],
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/commands/write.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/commands/write.rs
index 0cf09e1ea..84fb954d2 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/commands/write.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/commands/write.rs
@@ -143,8 +143,10 @@ async fn test_overwrite_protection() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     file.as_file_mut().flush()?;
     file.as_file_mut().sync_all()?;
+    let last_saved_time = file.path().metadata()?.modified()?;
 
-    test_key_sequence(&mut app, Some(":x<ret>"), None, false).await?;
+    // Exit empty unmodified view, externally changed file shouldn't be overwritten
+    test_key_sequence(&mut app, Some(":x<ret>"), None, true).await?;
 
     reload_file(&mut file).unwrap();
     let mut file_content = String::new();
@@ -152,6 +154,46 @@ async fn test_overwrite_protection() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     assert_eq!("extremely important content", file_content);
 
+    let saved_time = file.path().metadata()?.modified()?;
+    assert_eq!(saved_time, last_saved_time);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn test_overwrite_if_not_modified_since() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
+    file.as_file_mut().write_all("34".as_bytes())?;
+    file.as_file_mut().flush()?;
+    file.as_file_mut().sync_all()?;
+
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
+
+    helpers::run_event_loop_until_idle(&mut app).await;
+
+    // Modify and exit allowing saving because file hasn't been changed externally since opening
+    test_key_sequence(&mut app, Some("i12<esc>:x<ret>"), None, true).await?;
+
+    reload_file(&mut file).unwrap();
+    let mut file_content = String::new();
+    file.read_to_string(&mut file_content)?;
+
+    assert_eq!("1234", file_content);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn test_exit_if_not_named() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new().build()?;
+
+    helpers::run_event_loop_until_idle(&mut app).await;
+
+    // Modify and exit without saving because file hasn't been named yet
+    test_key_sequence(&mut app, Some("i12<esc>:x<ret>"), None, true).await?;
+
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/helix-view/src/document.rs b/helix-view/src/document.rs
index 04b7703c5..2b7ca00cd 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/document.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/document.rs
@@ -1183,23 +1183,21 @@ impl Document {
 
     pub fn pickup_last_saved_time(&mut self) {
         self.last_saved_time = match self.path() {
-            Some(path) => match path.metadata() {
-                Ok(metadata) => match metadata.modified() {
-                    Ok(mtime) => mtime,
-                    Err(err) => {
-                        log::debug!("Could not fetch file system's mtime, falling back to current system time: {}", err);
-                        SystemTime::now()
-                    }
-                },
-                Err(err) => {
-                    log::debug!("Could not fetch file system's mtime, falling back to current system time: {}", err);
-                    SystemTime::now()
-                }
-            },
+            Some(path) => path.metadata().and_then(|m| m.modified()).unwrap_or_else(|err| {
+                log::debug!("Could not fetch file system's mtime, falling back to current system time: {}", err);
+                SystemTime::now()
+            }),
             None => SystemTime::now(),
         };
     }
 
+    /// Path given and externally modified since `last_saved_time`?
+    pub fn externally_overwritten(&self) -> bool {
+        self.path()
+            .and_then(|p| p.metadata().ok().and_then(|m| m.modified().ok()))
+            .is_some_and(|mtime| mtime > self.last_saved_time)
+    }
+
     // Detect if the file is readonly and change the readonly field if necessary (unix only)
     pub fn detect_readonly(&mut self) {
         // Allows setting the flag for files the user cannot modify, like root files