diff --git a/src/calibre/__init__.py b/src/calibre/__init__.py
index 28c90795fe..a522695435 100644
--- a/src/calibre/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/__init__.py
@@ -673,6 +673,10 @@ def fsync(fileobj):
         # To check for the existence of the bug, simply run:
         # python -c "p = '/run/media/kovid/Kindle/driveinfo.calibre'; f = open(p, 'r+b'); os.fsync(f.fileno());"
         # this will cause the Kindle to disconnect.
-        with open(fileobj.name + '.linux-sucks', 'wb') as f:
-            f.write(b'I cannot believe I need to do this')
-        os.remove(f.name)
+        try:
+            with open(fileobj.name + '.linux-sucks', 'wb') as f:
+                f.write(b'I cannot believe I need to do this')
+            os.remove(f.name)
+        except Exception:
+            import traceback
+            traceback.print_exc()