diff --git a/src/SplitRideDialog.cpp b/src/SplitRideDialog.cpp
index 441f4119a..5398927bf 100644
--- a/src/SplitRideDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/SplitRideDialog.cpp
@@ -163,7 +163,11 @@ SplitRideDialog::CreateNewRideFile(const RideFile *ride, int nRecStart, int nRec
     QFile file(filePath);
     if (file.exists())
     {
-        QMessageBox::critical(this, tr("Split Ride"), tr("The file %1 already exists and will not be overwritten").arg(filePath));
+        QString backupPath = filePath + ".bak";
+        QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Split Ride"), tr("The file %1 already exists and will backed up to %2").arg(filePath).arg(backupPath));
+
+        QFile(backupPath).remove(); // just wipe away any previously saved backup
+        file.rename(backupPath);
         return;
     }