diff --git a/gphotos/LocalData.py b/gphotos/LocalData.py
index d636679b..a64ffecd 100644
--- a/gphotos/LocalData.py
+++ b/gphotos/LocalData.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
-# coding: utf8
-from pathlib import Path
+import logging
 import platform
 import sqlite3 as lite
-from sqlite3.dbapi2 import Connection, Cursor
 from datetime import datetime
+from os import unlink
+from pathlib import Path
+from sqlite3.dbapi2 import Connection, Cursor
 from typing import Iterator, Type
 
 # todo this module could be tidied quite a bit
@@ -12,13 +12,11 @@
 #  also the generic functions seem a bit ugly and could do with rework
 import gphotos.Queries as Queries
 from gphotos import Utils
+from gphotos.DatabaseMedia import DatabaseMedia
+from gphotos.DbRow import DbRow
 from gphotos.GoogleAlbumsRow import GoogleAlbumsRow
-from gphotos.LocalFilesRow import LocalFilesRow
 from gphotos.GooglePhotosRow import GooglePhotosRow
-from gphotos.DbRow import DbRow
-from gphotos.DatabaseMedia import DatabaseMedia
-
-import logging
+from gphotos.LocalFilesRow import LocalFilesRow
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -44,7 +42,7 @@ def __init__(self, root_folder: Path, flush_index: bool = False):
             clean_db = True
         elif flush_index:
             clean_db = True
-            self.db_file.rename(self.db_file.parent / (self.db_file.name + ".previous"))
+            self.backup_sql_file()
 
         self.con: Connection = lite.connect(str(self.db_file), check_same_thread=False)
         self.con.row_factory = lite.Row
@@ -59,6 +57,12 @@ def __init__(self, root_folder: Path, flush_index: bool = False):
     def __enter__(self):
         return self
 
+    def backup_sql_file(self):
+        backup = self.db_file.parent / (self.db_file.name + ".previous")
+        if backup.exists():
+            backup.unlink()
+        self.db_file.rename(backup)
+
     def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
         """ Always clean up and close the connection when this object is
         destroyed. """
@@ -84,7 +88,7 @@ def check_schema_version(self):
             )
             self.con.commit()
             self.con.close()
-            self.db_file.rename(self.db_file.parent / (self.db_file.name + ".previous"))
+            self.backup_sql_file()
             self.con = lite.connect(str(self.db_file))
             self.con.row_factory = lite.Row
             self.cur = self.con.cursor()