diff --git a/gitk b/gitk
index 7ef401fb6d..f17ba365eb 100755
--- a/gitk
+++ b/gitk
@@ -822,6 +822,7 @@ proc savestuff {w} {
 	}
 	puts $f "}"
 	close $f
+	catch {file delete "~/.gitk"}
 	file rename -force "~/.gitk-new" "~/.gitk"
     }
     set stuffsaved 1