diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
index 8cb1efe..ccc3fe5 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
@@ -680,11 +680,10 @@
     def get_export_symbols (self, ext):
         """Return the list of symbols that a shared extension has to
         export.  This either uses 'ext.export_symbols' or, if it's not
-        provided, "init" + module_name.  Only relevant on Windows, where
-        the .pyd file (DLL) must export the module "init" function.
+        provided, "PyInit_" + module_name.  Only relevant on Windows, where
+        the .pyd file (DLL) must export the module "PyInit_" function.
         """
-
-        initfunc_name = "init" + string.split(ext.name,'.')[-1]
+        initfunc_name = "PyInit_" + ext.name.split('.')[-1]
         if initfunc_name not in ext.export_symbols:
             ext.export_symbols.append(initfunc_name)
         return ext.export_symbols
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py
index 153c875..d992548 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
     def test_get_outputs(self):
         tmp_dir = self.mkdtemp()
         c_file = os.path.join(tmp_dir, 'foo.c')
-        self.write_file(c_file, 'void initfoo(void) {};\n')
+        self.write_file(c_file, 'void PyInit_foo(void) {};\n')
         ext = Extension('foo', [c_file])
         dist = Distribution({'name': 'xx',
                              'ext_modules': [ext]})
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index abb01e4..cb801f4 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -262,6 +262,9 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #6459: distutils.command.build_ext.get_export_symbols now uses the 
+  "PyInit" prefix, rather than "init". 
+
 - Issue #6455: Fixed test_build_ext under win32. 
 
 - Issue #6403: Fixed package path usage in build_ext.