diff --git a/include/spdlog/details/file_helper.h b/include/spdlog/details/file_helper.h
index da389d8d..f6aa5a3e 100644
--- a/include/spdlog/details/file_helper.h
+++ b/include/spdlog/details/file_helper.h
@@ -80,6 +80,14 @@ public:
         throw spdlog_ex("Failed opening file " + fname + " for writing");
     }
 
+    void reopen()
+    {
+       if(_filename.empty())
+          throw spdlog_ex("Failed re opening file - was not opened before");
+       open(_filename);	
+       
+    }
+
     void close()
     {
         if (_fd)
diff --git a/include/spdlog/sinks/file_sinks.h b/include/spdlog/sinks/file_sinks.h
index 847af960..8e9c1485 100644
--- a/include/spdlog/sinks/file_sinks.h
+++ b/include/spdlog/sinks/file_sinks.h
@@ -136,12 +136,7 @@ private:
                 throw spdlog_ex("rotating_file_sink: failed renaming " + src + " to " + target);
             }
         }
-        auto cur_name = _file_helper.filename();
-        if (std::remove(cur_name.c_str()) != 0)
-	  {
-	    throw spdlog_ex("rotating_file_sink: failed removing " + cur_name);
-	  }
-        _file_helper.open(cur_name);
+        _file_helper.reopen();
     }
     std::string _base_filename;
     std::string _extension;