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In eukaryotes, protein transport into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is facilitated by a protein‐conducting channel, the Sec61 complex. The presence of large, water‐filled pores with uncontrolled ion permeability, as formed by Sec61 complexes in the ER membrane, would seriously interfere with the regulated release of calcium from the ER lumen into the cytosol, an essential mechanism for intracellular signalling. We identified a calmodulin (CaM)‐binding motif in the cytosolic N‐terminus of mammalian Sec61α that bound CaM but not Ca²⁺‐free apocalmodulin with nanomolar affinity and sequence specificity. In single‐channel measurements, CaM potently mediated Sec61‐channel closure in Ca²⁺‐dependent manner. At the cellular level, two different CaM antagonists stimulated calcium release from the ER through Sec61 channels. However, protein transport into microsomes was not modulated by Ca²⁺‐CaM …