diff --git a/R/model.R b/R/model.R
index 47d027c8c..2a7b4623f 100644
--- a/R/model.R
+++ b/R/model.R
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@ compile <- function(quiet = TRUE,
     private$precompile_cpp_options_ <- NULL
     private$precompile_stanc_options_ <- NULL
     private$precompile_include_paths_ <- NULL
+    self$functions$existing_exe <- TRUE
     self$exe_file(exe)
     return(invisible(self))
   } else {
@@ -586,6 +587,7 @@ compile <- function(quiet = TRUE,
   stancflags_standalone <- c("--standalone-functions", stancflags_val, stancflags_combined)
   self$functions$hpp_code <- get_standalone_hpp(temp_stan_file, stancflags_standalone)
   self$functions$external <- !is.null(user_header)
+  self$functions$existing_exe <- FALSE
   if (compile_standalone) {
     expose_stan_functions(self$functions, !quiet)
   }
diff --git a/R/utils.R b/R/utils.R
index bf65b513d..96c7739cf 100644
--- a/R/utils.R
+++ b/R/utils.R
@@ -914,6 +914,10 @@ expose_stan_functions <- function(function_env, global = FALSE, verbose = FALSE)
           "WSL CmdStan and will not be compiled",
           call. = FALSE)
   }
+  if (function_env$existing_exe) {
+    stop("Exporting standalone functions is not possible with a pre-compiled Stan model!",
+          call. = FALSE)
+  }
   if (function_env$external && cmdstan_version() < "2.32") {
     stop("Exporting standalone functions with external C++ is not available before CmdStan 2.32",
          call. = FALSE)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-model-expose-functions.R b/tests/testthat/test-model-expose-functions.R
index 39f01359b..9836d4065 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-model-expose-functions.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-model-expose-functions.R
@@ -175,3 +175,24 @@ test_that("Exposing external functions errors before v2.32", {
 
   reset_cmdstan_version()
 })
+
+test_that("Exposing functions with precompiled model gives meaningful error", {
+  skip_if(os_is_wsl())
+
+  stan_file <- write_stan_file("
+    functions {
+      real a_plus_b(real a, real b) { return a + b; }
+    }
+    parameters { real x; }
+    model { x ~ std_normal(); }
+  ")
+  mod1 <- cmdstan_model(stan_file, compile_standalone = TRUE)
+  expect_equal(7.5, mod1$functions$a_plus_b(5, 2.5))
+
+  mod2 <- cmdstan_model(stan_file)
+  expect_error(
+    mod2$expose_functions(),
+    "Exporting standalone functions is not possible with a pre-compiled Stan model!",
+    fixed = TRUE
+  )
+})