1 files changed, 13 insertions, 4 deletions

diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index a66a58d52818..66979a5553b8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -421,10 +421,19 @@ static int __cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv)
         signal(SIGINT, sig_handler);
 
         if (!stat(output_name, &st) && st.st_size) {
-                if (!force && !append_file) {
-                        fprintf(stderr, "Error, output file %s exists, use -A to append or -f to overwrite.\n",
-                                        output_name);
-                        exit(-1);
+                if (!force) {
+                        if (!append_file) {
+                                pr_err("Error, output file %s exists, use -A "
+                                       "to append or -f to overwrite.\n",
+                                       output_name);
+                                exit(-1);
+                        }
+                } else {
+                        char oldname[PATH_MAX];
+                        snprintf(oldname, sizeof(oldname), "%s.old",
+                                 output_name);
+                        unlink(oldname);
+                        rename(output_name, oldname);
                 }
         } else {
                 append_file = 0;