diff --git a/src/io/io.f90 b/src/io/io.f90
index d6adf265d..89b0a5988 100644
--- a/src/io/io.f90
+++ b/src/io/io.f90
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ module function io_get_old_t_final_system(self, param) result(old_t_final)
       class(swiftest_nbody_system), allocatable :: tmpsys
       class(swiftest_parameters),   allocatable :: tmpparam
       integer(I4B) :: ierr, iu = LUN
-      character(len=STRMAX)            :: errmsg
+      character(len=STRMAX) :: errmsg
 
       old_t_final = 0.0_DP
       allocate(tmpsys, source=self)
@@ -2105,26 +2105,17 @@ module subroutine io_write_frame_system(self, param)
                   errmsg = param%outfile // " not found! You must specify OUT_STAT = NEW, REPLACE, or UNKNOWN"
                   goto 667
                end if
+               call param%nciu%open(param)
             case('NEW')
                if (fileExists) then
-                  errmsg = param%outfile // " Alread Exists! You must specify OUT_STAT = OLD, REPLACE, or UNKNOWN"
+                  errmsg = param%outfile // " Alread Exists! You must specify OUT_STAT = APPEND, REPLACE, or UNKNOWN"
                   goto 667
                end if
+               call param%nciu%initialize(param)
             case('REPLACE', 'UNKNOWN')
-               if (fileExists) then
-                  open(file=param%outfile, unit=iu, status='OLD')
-                  close (unit=BINUNIT, status="delete")
-               end if
-            end select
-
-            select case(param%out_stat)
-            case('APPEND')
-               call param%nciu%open(param)
-            case('NEW', 'REPLACE', 'UNKNOWN')
                call param%nciu%initialize(param)
-               call param%nciu%close(param)
-               call param%nciu%open(param)
             end select
+
             lfirst = .false.
          else
             call param%nciu%open(param)
diff --git a/src/netcdf/netcdf.f90 b/src/netcdf/netcdf.f90
index ac512ed6a..d97f9169e 100644
--- a/src/netcdf/netcdf.f90
+++ b/src/netcdf/netcdf.f90
@@ -78,14 +78,17 @@ module subroutine netcdf_initialize_output(self, param)
       integer(I4B) :: old_mode, nvar, varid, vartype, old_unit
       real(DP) :: dfill
       real(SP) :: sfill
+      logical :: fileExists
+      character(len=STRMAX) :: errmsg
 
       dfill = ieee_value(dfill, IEEE_QUIET_NAN)
       sfill = ieee_value(sfill, IEEE_QUIET_NAN)
 
-      !! Create the new output file, deleting any previously existing output file of the same name
-      if (any(DUMP_NC_FILE == param%outfile)) then
-         open(file=param%outfile, unit=old_unit, status='OLD')
-         close(unit=old_unit, status='delete')
+      ! Check if the file exists, and if it does, delete it
+      inquire(file=param%outfile, exist=fileExists)
+      if (fileExists) then
+         open(unit=LUN, file=param%outfile, status="old", err=667, iomsg=errmsg)
+         close(unit=LUN, status="delete")
       end if
 
       call check( nf90_create(param%outfile, NF90_NETCDF4, self%ncid) )
@@ -198,6 +201,10 @@ module subroutine netcdf_initialize_output(self, param)
       call check( nf90_enddef(self%ncid) )
 
       return
+
+      667 continue
+      write(*,*) "Error creating NetCDF output file. " // trim(adjustl(errmsg))
+      call util_exit(FAILURE)
    end subroutine netcdf_initialize_output