diff --git a/libs/pbd/file_utils.cc b/libs/pbd/file_utils.cc
index 956b7002cb..f323ebcb69 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/file_utils.cc
+++ b/libs/pbd/file_utils.cc
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ copy_file(const std::string & from_path, const std::string & to_path)
 
 	try
 	{
-		from_file->copy (to_file);
+		from_file->copy (to_file, Gio::FILE_COPY_OVERWRITE);
 	}
 	catch(const Glib::Exception& ex)
 	{
diff --git a/libs/pbd/pbd/file_utils.h b/libs/pbd/pbd/file_utils.h
index 8f5b6d1e25..475ddb9828 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/pbd/file_utils.h
+++ b/libs/pbd/pbd/file_utils.h
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ find_file_in_search_path (const SearchPath& search_path,
 
 /**
  * Attempt to copy the contents of the file from_path to a new file
- * at path to_path.
+ * at path to_path. If to_path exists it is overwritten.
  *
  * @return true if file was successfully copied
  */