diff --git a/python/port/mod/ion/file.cpp b/python/port/mod/ion/file.cpp
index a0a053b86..2efe8e091 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/ion/file.cpp
+++ b/python/port/mod/ion/file.cpp
@@ -464,15 +464,8 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t file_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n_args, size_t n
             file->record = Ion::Storage::sharedStorage()->recordNamed(file_name);
             break;
         case APPEND:
-            file->position = 0;
             status = Ion::Storage::sharedStorage()->createRecordWithFullName(file_name, "", 0);
             switch (status) {
-                case Ion::Storage::Record::ErrorStatus::NameTaken:
-                    // setValue messes with empty buffer, so we delete record and re-create it.
-                    file->record = Ion::Storage::sharedStorage()->recordNamed(file_name);
-                    file->record.destroy();
-
-                    break;
                 case Ion::Storage::Record::ErrorStatus::NotEnoughSpaceAvailable:
                     mp_raise_OSError(28);
                     break;
@@ -480,6 +473,7 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t file_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n_args, size_t n
                     break;
             }
             file->record = Ion::Storage::sharedStorage()->recordNamed(file_name);
+            file->position = file->record.value().size;
             break;
     }