diff --git a/src/viewer/text/textarea.c b/src/viewer/text/textarea.c
index 04dcab4f..8db253a7 100644
--- a/src/viewer/text/textarea.c
+++ b/src/viewer/text/textarea.c
@@ -380,14 +380,14 @@ textarea_edit(int op, struct terminal *term_, struct form_state *fs_,
 			goto free_and_return;
 		}
 
-		unlink(fn);
-
 		if (file.length > fc_maxlength) {
 			done_string(&file);
 			textarea_editor = 0;
 			goto free_and_return;
 		}
 
+		unlink(fn);
+
 		mem_free(fs->value);
 		fs->value = file.source;
 		fs->state = file.length;