diff --git a/flang/docs/Extensions.md b/flang/docs/Extensions.md
--- a/flang/docs/Extensions.md
+++ b/flang/docs/Extensions.md
@@ -188,6 +188,8 @@
   if an actual argument acceptable to one could not be passed to
   the other & vice versa because exactly one is polymorphic or
   exactly one is unlimited polymorphic).
+* External unit 0 is predefined and connected to the standard error output,
+  and defined as `ERROR_UNIT` in the intrinsic `ISO_FORTRAN_ENV` module.
 
 ### Extensions supported when enabled by options
 
diff --git a/flang/module/iso_fortran_env.f90 b/flang/module/iso_fortran_env.f90
--- a/flang/module/iso_fortran_env.f90
+++ b/flang/module/iso_fortran_env.f90
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
   integer, parameter :: current_team = -1, initial_team = -2, parent_team = -3
 
   integer, parameter :: input_unit = 5, output_unit = 6
-  integer, parameter :: error_unit = output_unit
+  integer, parameter :: error_unit = 0
   integer, parameter :: iostat_end = -1, iostat_eor = -2
   integer, parameter :: iostat_inquire_internal_unit = -1
 
diff --git a/flang/runtime/unit.cpp b/flang/runtime/unit.cpp
--- a/flang/runtime/unit.cpp
+++ b/flang/runtime/unit.cpp
@@ -21,19 +21,23 @@
 // should work without a Fortran main program.
 static Lock unitMapLock;
 static UnitMap *unitMap{nullptr};
-static ExternalFileUnit *defaultInput{nullptr};
-static ExternalFileUnit *defaultOutput{nullptr};
+static ExternalFileUnit *defaultInput{nullptr}; // unit 5
+static ExternalFileUnit *defaultOutput{nullptr}; // unit 6
+static ExternalFileUnit *errorOutput{nullptr}; // unit 0 extension
 
 void FlushOutputOnCrash(const Terminator &terminator) {
-  if (!defaultOutput) {
+  if (!defaultOutput && !errorOutput) {
     return;
   }
+  IoErrorHandler handler{terminator};
+  handler.HasIoStat(); // prevent nested crash if flush has error
   CriticalSection critical{unitMapLock};
   if (defaultOutput) {
-    IoErrorHandler handler{terminator};
-    handler.HasIoStat(); // prevent nested crash if flush has error
     defaultOutput->FlushOutput(handler);
   }
+  if (errorOutput) {
+    errorOutput->FlushOutput(handler);
+  }
 }
 
 ExternalFileUnit *ExternalFileUnit::LookUp(int unit) {
@@ -210,6 +214,7 @@
   Terminator terminator{__FILE__, __LINE__};
   IoErrorHandler handler{terminator};
   UnitMap *newUnitMap{New<UnitMap>{terminator}().release()};
+
   bool wasExtant{false};
   ExternalFileUnit &out{newUnitMap->LookUpOrCreate(6, terminator, wasExtant)};
   RUNTIME_CHECK(terminator, !wasExtant);
@@ -217,12 +222,21 @@
   out.SetDirection(Direction::Output, handler);
   out.isUnformatted = false;
   defaultOutput = &out;
+
   ExternalFileUnit &in{newUnitMap->LookUpOrCreate(5, terminator, wasExtant)};
   RUNTIME_CHECK(terminator, !wasExtant);
   in.Predefine(0);
   in.SetDirection(Direction::Input, handler);
   in.isUnformatted = false;
   defaultInput = &in;
+
+  ExternalFileUnit &error{newUnitMap->LookUpOrCreate(0, terminator, wasExtant)};
+  RUNTIME_CHECK(terminator, !wasExtant);
+  error.Predefine(2);
+  error.SetDirection(Direction::Output, handler);
+  error.isUnformatted = false;
+  errorOutput = &error;
+
   // TODO: Set UTF-8 mode from the environment
   unitMap = newUnitMap;
   return *unitMap;
@@ -235,6 +249,8 @@
     FreeMemoryAndNullify(unitMap);
   }
   defaultOutput = nullptr;
+  defaultInput = nullptr;
+  errorOutput = nullptr;
 }
 
 void ExternalFileUnit::FlushAll(IoErrorHandler &handler) {
@@ -627,8 +643,13 @@
 
 void ExternalFileUnit::BeginSequentialVariableFormattedInputRecord(
     IoErrorHandler &handler) {
-  if (this == defaultInput && defaultOutput) {
-    defaultOutput->FlushOutput(handler);
+  if (this == defaultInput) {
+    if (defaultOutput) {
+      defaultOutput->FlushOutput(handler);
+    }
+    if (errorOutput) {
+      errorOutput->FlushOutput(handler);
+    }
   }
   std::size_t length{0};
   do {