diff --git a/scripts/mod/modpost.c b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
index 141370ebbfd3..f0d48f65fb33 100644
--- a/scripts/mod/modpost.c
+++ b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
@@ -2333,6 +2333,9 @@ static void write_buf(struct buffer *b, const char *fname)
 {
 	FILE *file;
 
+	if (error_occurred)
+		return;
+
 	file = fopen(fname, "w");
 	if (!file) {
 		perror(fname);