diff --git a/src/helma/scripting/rhino/extensions/XmlObject.java b/src/helma/scripting/rhino/extensions/XmlObject.java
index 04434ab5..1311cfb9 100644
--- a/src/helma/scripting/rhino/extensions/XmlObject.java
+++ b/src/helma/scripting/rhino/extensions/XmlObject.java
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ public class XmlObject {
 
         File finalFile = new File(file);
 
+        if (finalFile.exists()) {
+            finalFile.delete();
+        }
         tmpFile.renameTo(finalFile);
         core.getApplication().logEvent("wrote xml to " + finalFile.getAbsolutePath());