diff --git a/hmmlconv/hmmlconv.c b/hmmlconv/hmmlconv.c
index 9ad6c12..c933bff 100644
--- a/hmmlconv/hmmlconv.c
+++ b/hmmlconv/hmmlconv.c
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ OpenOutput:;
                 {
                     if(AlwaysOverwrite || PromptOverwrite(OutNameBuf, &AlwaysOverwrite))
                     {
-                        OpenFlags = (OpenFlags & ~O_CREAT) | O_TRUNC;
+                        OpenFlags = (OpenFlags & ~O_EXCL) | O_TRUNC;
                         goto OpenOutput;
                     }
                 }