diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 789c48d..b4a15b1 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ fn main_impl() -> Result<ExitCode, Box<dyn Error>> {
     let mut buffer = vec![];
 
     // write header and paths
+    writeln!(buffer, "// clear the file to abort the rename")?;
     writeln!(buffer, "// empty lines and coments are ignored")?;
     writeln!(buffer, "// do not remove or reorder any lines")?;
     writeln!(buffer, "// do not edit anything other than file stems")?;
@@ -99,6 +100,11 @@ fn main_impl() -> Result<ExitCode, Box<dyn Error>> {
 
     drop(file);
 
+    if after.is_empty() {
+        eprintln!("file empty, aborted rename");
+        return Ok(ExitCode::FAILURE);
+    }
+
     if before.len() != after.len() {
         eprintln!(
             "had {} path(s) before, but {} path(s) after",