diff --git a/packages/babel-cli/test/fixtures/babel-external-helpers/--whitelist/stdout.txt b/packages/babel-cli/test/fixtures/babel-external-helpers/--whitelist/stdout.txt
index 1068d127fe..8b78039c1a 100644
--- a/packages/babel-cli/test/fixtures/babel-external-helpers/--whitelist/stdout.txt
+++ b/packages/babel-cli/test/fixtures/babel-external-helpers/--whitelist/stdout.txt
@@ -17,5 +17,5 @@
     return Constructor;
   }
 
-  babelHelpers.createClass = _createClass
+  babelHelpers.createClass = _createClass;
 })(typeof global === "undefined" ? self : global);
diff --git a/packages/babel-helpers/src/index.js b/packages/babel-helpers/src/index.js
index 8f067fc137..d71d11dfae 100644
--- a/packages/babel-helpers/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/babel-helpers/src/index.js
@@ -157,10 +157,14 @@ function permuteHelperAST(file, metadata, id, localBindings) {
           exp.replaceWith(decl);
           path.pushContainer(
             "body",
-            t.assignmentExpression("=", id, t.identifier(exportName)),
+            t.expressionStatement(
+              t.assignmentExpression("=", id, t.identifier(exportName)),
+            ),
           );
         } else {
-          exp.replaceWith(t.assignmentExpression("=", id, decl.node));
+          exp.replaceWith(
+            t.expressionStatement(t.assignmentExpression("=", id, decl.node)),
+          );
         }
       } else {
         throw new Error("Unexpected helper format.");