diff --git a/opustags.c b/opustags.c
index 3b52881..35deea6 100644
--- a/opustags.c
+++ b/opustags.c
@@ -462,6 +462,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv){
         error = "opustags: invalid file";
     if(error){
         fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", error);
+        if(path_out != NULL && out != stdout)
+            remove(path_out);
         return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;