diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index fdef799b..191218d6 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -1724,7 +1724,6 @@ bool write_file(const char *name, FILE *stream, bool tmp,
 		int fd_source;
 		FILE *f_source = NULL;
 
-		if (f == NULL) {
 			f = fopen(realname, "rb");
 
 			if (f == NULL) {
@@ -1732,7 +1731,6 @@ bool write_file(const char *name, FILE *stream, bool tmp,
 						strerror(errno));
 				goto cleanup_and_exit;
 			}
-		}
 
 		tempname = safe_tempfile(&f);
 
@@ -1742,7 +1740,6 @@ bool write_file(const char *name, FILE *stream, bool tmp,
 			goto cleanup_and_exit;
 		}
 
-		if (stream == NULL) {
 			fd_source = open(realname, O_RDONLY | O_CREAT, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR);
 
 			if (fd_source != -1) {
@@ -1756,7 +1753,6 @@ bool write_file(const char *name, FILE *stream, bool tmp,
 					goto cleanup_and_exit;
 				}
 			}
-		}
 
 		if (f_source == NULL || copy_file(f_source, f, TRUE) != 0) {
 			statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing temp file: %s"),