diff --git a/yq.go b/yq.go
index 458ca6ea..549cfbc2 100644
--- a/yq.go
+++ b/yq.go
@@ -633,11 +633,12 @@ func safelyRenameFile(from string, to string) {
 		if copyError := copyFileContents(from, to); copyError != nil {
 			log.Errorf("Failed copying from %v to %v", from, to)
 			log.Error(copyError.Error())
+		} else {
+			removeErr := os.Remove(from)
+			if removeErr != nil {
+				log.Errorf("failed removing original file: %s", from)
+			}
 		}
-		removeErr := os.Remove(from)
-		    if removeErr != nil {
-			log.Errorf("failed removing original file: %s", from)
-		    }
 	}
 }