diff --git a/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py b/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py
index d525884ee97..273840a424f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py
+++ b/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py
@@ -201,7 +201,6 @@ def groupid_to_group(x):
                         output_file.writelines(input_file.readlines())
 
         except BaseException:
-            os.remove(tmp_filename)
             # clean up the original file on failure.
             shutil.move(backup_filename, filename)
             raise