diff --git a/cmd/commands_test.go b/cmd/commands_test.go
index 00f27267..baa723cd 100644
--- a/cmd/commands_test.go
+++ b/cmd/commands_test.go
@@ -1927,6 +1927,22 @@ func TestWriteCmd_Inplace(t *testing.T) {
 	test.AssertResult(t, expectedOutput, strings.Trim(gotOutput, "\n "))
 }
 
+func TestWriteCmd_InplaceError(t *testing.T) {
+	content := `b: cat
+  c: 3
+`
+	filename := test.WriteTempYamlFile(content)
+	defer test.RemoveTempYamlFile(filename)
+
+	cmd := getRootCommand()
+	result := test.RunCmd(cmd, fmt.Sprintf("write -i %s b.c 7", filename))
+	if result.Error == nil {
+		t.Error("Expected Error to occur!")
+	}
+	gotOutput := test.ReadTempYamlFile(filename)
+	test.AssertResult(t, content, gotOutput)
+}
+
 func TestWriteCmd_Append(t *testing.T) {
 	content := `b:
   - foo
diff --git a/cmd/utils.go b/cmd/utils.go
index 658657a3..29b56b89 100644
--- a/cmd/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/utils.go
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ func updateDoc(inputFile string, updateCommands []yqlib.UpdateCommand, writer io
 func readAndUpdate(stdOut io.Writer, inputFile string, updateData updateDataFn) error {
 	var destination io.Writer
 	var destinationName string
+	var completedSuccessfully = false
 	if writeInplace {
 		info, err := os.Stat(inputFile)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -368,7 +369,9 @@ func readAndUpdate(stdOut io.Writer, inputFile string, updateData updateDataFn)
 		destination = tempFile
 		defer func() {
 			safelyCloseFile(tempFile)
-			safelyRenameFile(tempFile.Name(), inputFile)
+			if completedSuccessfully {
+				safelyRenameFile(tempFile.Name(), inputFile)
+			}
 		}()
 	} else {
 		destination = stdOut
@@ -387,7 +390,9 @@ func readAndUpdate(stdOut io.Writer, inputFile string, updateData updateDataFn)
 		encoder = yqlib.NewYamlEncoder(bufferedWriter, indent, colorsEnabled)
 	}
 
-	return readStream(inputFile, mapYamlDecoder(updateData, encoder))
+	var errorProcessing = readStream(inputFile, mapYamlDecoder(updateData, encoder))
+	completedSuccessfully = errorProcessing == nil
+	return errorProcessing
 }
 
 type updateCommandParsed struct {