diff --git a/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs b/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs
index 4d288c940..01c87a0c1 100644
--- a/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs
+++ b/src/uu/sort/src/sort.rs
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ impl Output {
             let file = OpenOptions::new()
                 .write(true)
                 .create(true)
+                .truncate(true)
                 .open(name)
                 .map_err(|e| SortError::OpenFailed {
                     path: name.to_owned(),