diff --git a/lib/nodes/file.cpp b/lib/nodes/file.cpp
index 239719f7b..4f67b2a98 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/file.cpp
+++ b/lib/nodes/file.cpp
@@ -269,18 +269,17 @@ int file_start(struct vnode *n)
 
 	free(cpy);
 
-	/* Open file */
-
 	f->formatter->start(&n->in.signals);
 
+	/* Open file */
+	f->stream_out = fopen(f->uri, "a+");
+	if (!f->stream_out)
+		return -1;
+
 	f->stream_in = fopen(f->uri, "r");
 	if (!f->stream_in)
 		return -1;
 
-	f->stream_out = fopen(f->uri, "a+");
-	if (!f->stream_out)
-		return -1;
-
 	if (f->buffer_size_in) {
 		ret = setvbuf(f->stream_in, nullptr, _IOFBF, f->buffer_size_in);
 		if (ret)