diff --git a/examples/simple_example.sh b/examples/simple_example.sh
index d077ffe..d9ee60f 100755
--- a/examples/simple_example.sh
+++ b/examples/simple_example.sh
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ shArgs.arg "DEBUG" -d --debug
 shArgs.parse "$@"
 
 echo "The message is $MESSAGE"
+echo "The message is $(shArgs.val "MESSAGE")" 
 
 if [ "$DEBUG" == true ]; then
   echo "DEBUG is true!"
diff --git a/scripts/shArg.sh b/scripts/shArg.sh
index 6f6266a..c5a80f3 100755
--- a/scripts/shArg.sh
+++ b/scripts/shArg.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ declare -A _SH_SWITCHES=()
 declare -A _SH_TYPES=()
 declare -A _SH_AUTOS=()
 declare -A _SH_HOOK_FUNCTIONS=()
+declare AUTO_EXPORTS=true
 shArgs.arg(){   
     local variableName=$1
     local shortName=$2
@@ -88,6 +89,11 @@ _processFlag() {
     _SH_ARGUMENTS[$_varName]=$_varValue
     
     if [ "$autoExport" == true ]; then
+        existing=$(eval "echo \$$_varName")
+        if [ -n "$existing" ]; then
+            _warn "autoexported variable \"$_varName\" contains a value and will be overridden by shArg"
+        fi
+
         eval "$_varName=\"$_varValue\""
     fi                                            
 }
@@ -102,7 +108,7 @@ _processSplitData() {
     _varName=${_SH_SWITCHES[$name]}    
     if [ ! -z "$_varName" ]; then
         argType=${_SH_TYPES[$_varName]}
-        autoExport=${_SH_AUTOS[$_varName]}
+        autoExport="$AUTO_EXPORTS"
         hookFunction=${_SH_HOOK_FUNCTIONS[$_varName]}
         if [ -z "$value" ]; then
             _processFlag "$_varName" "$autoExport"
@@ -195,4 +201,8 @@ _warn(){
     if [ -z "$SHARG_DISABLE_WARNINGS" ]; then
          echo -e "\033[33m@shArg Warning: $1\033[0m"
     fi
+}
+
+shArgs.disableAutoExport(){
+    AUTO_EXPORTS=false
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/unit/equals_assignment_spec.sh b/spec/unit/equals_assignment_spec.sh
index 0e342ab..e1644b3 100644
--- a/spec/unit/equals_assignment_spec.sh
+++ b/spec/unit/equals_assignment_spec.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Describe 'shArg'
       shArgs.arg "FILE" -f --file        #5
       shArgs.arg "URL" -l --url urlHook  #6
       URL_HOOK_CALLED=false
+      SHARG_DISABLE_WARNINGS=true
     }
     BeforeEach 'setup'
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/shArgs.val_spec.sh b/spec/unit/shArgs.val_spec.sh
index a5e3cb1..58247c2 100644
--- a/spec/unit/shArgs.val_spec.sh
+++ b/spec/unit/shArgs.val_spec.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Describe 'shArg'
       shArgs.arg "USER" -u                          
       shArgs.arg "OUTPUT" --output                  
       shArgs.arg "FILE" -f --file    
-
+      SHARG_DISABLE_WARNINGS=true
       shArgs.parse --message "efghij" -u picard --output json -f input.dat -d
     }
     BeforeEach 'setup'
diff --git a/spec/unit/shArgs_parse_spec.sh b/spec/unit/shArgs_parse_spec.sh
index 8c5483a..7d75d99 100644
--- a/spec/unit/shArgs_parse_spec.sh
+++ b/spec/unit/shArgs_parse_spec.sh
@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@ Context "Argument Parsing"
       shArgs.arg "URL" -l --url urlHook                  #6
       shArgs.arg "NAME" -nm --name                       #7
       shArgs.arg "RESOURCE_GROUP" -rgp --resource-group  #8
+      shArgs.arg "LABEL" --label                         #9
       URL_HOOK_CALLED=false
+      unset "USER"
     }
+
     BeforeEach 'setup'
 
     It 'should parse an argument with short name (#1)'
@@ -100,7 +103,32 @@ Context "Argument Parsing"
     It 'should display a warning if an unknown flag is passed in'
       When call shArgs.parse --fake-flag
         The output should include "@shArg Warning: Unknown argument --fake-flag"
-    End     
+    End    
+
+    label_setup(){
+      export LABEL="hello"
+    }
+    label_cleanup(){
+      unset "LABEL"
+    }
+    Before 'label_setup'
+    It 'should display a warning if an existing variable is overridden'
+      When call shArgs.parse --label "hello" 
+        The output should include "@shArg Warning: autoexported variable \"LABEL\" contains a value and will be overridden by shArg"
+    End  
+    After 'label_cleanup'
+
+    export_setup(){
+      #shArgs.disableAutoExport
+      shArgs.arg "TYPE" --type                         #9
+    }
+    Before 'export_setup'
+    It 'should not auto export variables if shArgs.disableAutoExport is configured'
+      When call shArgs.parse --type "macos" 
+        The value "$TYPE" should not equal ""
+        The value "$TYPE" should equal "macos"
+    End  
+     
   End 
 
   Context "Argument Parsing (Legacy)"
@@ -120,6 +148,8 @@ Context "Argument Parsing"
       shArgs.arg "NAME" -nm --name PARAMETER true                       #7
       shArgs.arg "RESOURCE_GROUP" -rgp --resource-group PARAMETER true  #8
       URL_HOOK_CALLED=false
+      unset "USER"
+      unset "LABEL"
     }
     BeforeEach 'setup_legacy'