diff --git a/volatility3/cli/__init__.py b/volatility3/cli/__init__.py
index 1933607c3..8d198e57c 100644
--- a/volatility3/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/volatility3/cli/__init__.py
@@ -324,18 +324,13 @@ class CommandLine:
             constructed = plugins.construct_plugin(ctx, automagics, plugin, base_config_path, progress_callback,
                                                    self.file_handler_class_factory())
 
-            backup_filename = constants.BACKUP_EXISTING_CONFIG_OUTPUT
             if args.write_config:
                 vollog.warning('Use of --write-config has been deprecated, replaced by --save-config <filename>')
                 args.save_config = 'config.json'
-                backup_filename = False
             if args.save_config:
                 vollog.debug("Writing out configuration data to {args.save_config}")
-                if os.path.exists(os.path.abspath(args.save_config)) and backup_filename:
-                    # Backup existing file
-                    backup_filename = self.find_backup_filename(args.save_config)
-                    vollog.debug(f"Backing up existing file to {backup_filename}")
-                    os.rename(args.save_config, backup_filename)
+                if os.path.exists(os.path.abspath(args.save_config)):
+                    parser.error(f"Cannot write configuration: file {args.save_config} already exists")
                 with open(args.save_config, "w") as f:
                     json.dump(dict(constructed.build_configuration()), f, sort_keys = True, indent = 2)
         except exceptions.UnsatisfiedException as excp:
diff --git a/volatility3/cli/volshell/__init__.py b/volatility3/cli/volshell/__init__.py
index f3bed1b73..30fe75e06 100644
--- a/volatility3/cli/volshell/__init__.py
+++ b/volatility3/cli/volshell/__init__.py
@@ -237,18 +237,13 @@ class VolShell(cli.CommandLine):
             constructed = plugins.construct_plugin(ctx, automagics, plugin, base_config_path, progress_callback,
                                                    self.file_handler_class_factory())
 
-            backup_filename = constants.BACKUP_EXISTING_CONFIG_OUTPUT
             if args.write_config:
                 vollog.warning('Use of --write-config has been deprecated, replaced by --save-config <filename>')
                 args.save_config = 'config.json'
-                backup_filename = False
             if args.save_config:
                 vollog.debug("Writing out configuration data to {args.save_config}")
-                if os.path.exists(os.path.abspath(args.save_config)) and backup_filename:
-                    # Backup existing file
-                    backup_filename = self.find_backup_filename(args.save_config)
-                    vollog.debug(f"Backing up existing file to {backup_filename}")
-                    os.rename(args.save_config, backup_filename)
+                if os.path.exists(os.path.abspath(args.save_config)):
+                    parser.error(f"Cannot write configuration: file {args.save_config} already exists")
                 with open(args.save_config, "w") as f:
                     json.dump(dict(constructed.build_configuration()), f, sort_keys = True, indent = 2)
         except exceptions.UnsatisfiedException as excp: