diff --git a/pyang/plugins/sid.py b/pyang/plugins/sid.py
index 97265662..fdf39fa2 100644
--- a/pyang/plugins/sid.py
+++ b/pyang/plugins/sid.py
@@ -761,10 +761,8 @@ def generate_file(self):
         for item in self.content['items']:
             del item['status']
 
-        if os.path.exists(self.output_file_name):
-            os.remove(self.output_file_name)
-
         with open(self.output_file_name, 'w') as outfile:
+            outfile.truncate(0)
             json.dump(self.content, outfile, indent=2)
 
     ########################################################