To reproduce, create a test file as follows: * A link to [[*B][B]] * B Put cursor on heading A C-c C-e (org-export-dispatch) C-s so Export scope is set to Subtree t (export to plain text) A (as ascii buffer) I see error user-error: Unable to resolve link: "*B" Emacs : GNU Emacs 28.0.50 (build 28, x86_64-pc-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 3.24.24, cairo version 1.16.0) of 2021-07-12 Package: Org mode version 9.4.6 (9.4.6-10-gee652a-elpaplus @ /home/kun/.emacs.d/elpa/org-plus-contrib-20210712/)