diff --git a/Tools/bgen/bgen/scantools.py b/Tools/bgen/bgen/scantools.py
index 89447e1aa5f..58006813a10 100644
--- a/Tools/bgen/bgen/scantools.py
+++ b/Tools/bgen/bgen/scantools.py
@@ -296,7 +296,10 @@ def setoutput(self, spec, defs = None):
 			self.defsmine = mine
 
 	def openoutput(self, filename):
-		file = open(filename, 'w')
+		try:
+			file = open(filename, 'w')
+		except IOError, arg:
+			raise IOError, (filename, arg)
 		self.setfiletype(filename)
 		return file