diff --git a/buffer/__init__.py b/buffer/__init__.py
index bca58b3..bd9ce6e 100644
--- a/buffer/__init__.py
+++ b/buffer/__init__.py
@@ -659,8 +659,10 @@ class FileBuffer(Buffer):
             if self.changed_on_disk():
                 raise Exception, "oh no! %r has changed on-disk!" % self.path
 
-        temp_path = self._temp_path()
-        shutil.copyfile(self.path, temp_path)
+        exists = os.path.exists(self.path)
+        if exists:
+            temp_path = self._temp_path()
+            shutil.copyfile(self.path, temp_path)
 
         try:
             data = self.make_string()
@@ -672,12 +674,12 @@ class FileBuffer(Buffer):
             f2.write(self.bytemark + data)
             f2.close()
         except:
-            shutil.copyfile(temp_path, self.path)
+            if exists: shutil.copyfile(temp_path, self.path)
         else:
             self.store_checksum(data)
             self.modified = False
         finally:
-            os.unlink(temp_path)
+            if exists: os.unlink(temp_path)
     def save_as(self, path):
         self.path = path
         self.save()