diff --git a/src/fpm/cmd/new.f90 b/src/fpm/cmd/new.f90
index 81cf62fc4d..2b8d990385 100644
--- a/src/fpm/cmd/new.f90
+++ b/src/fpm/cmd/new.f90
@@ -592,6 +592,11 @@ subroutine create_verified_basic_manifest(filename)
    integer                     :: lun
    character(len=8)            :: date
 
+    if(exists(filename))then
+       write(stderr,'(*(g0,1x))')'<INFO>  ',filename,&
+       & 'already exists. Not overwriting'
+       return
+    endif
     !> get date to put into metadata in manifest file "fpm.toml"
     call date_and_time(DATE=date)
     table = toml_table()