diff --git a/markup/tasks.py b/markup/tasks.py
index de01024..252fe5e 100644
--- a/markup/tasks.py
+++ b/markup/tasks.py
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ def process_markup_pdf(pdf_path, username):
         print(f'No pdf - exiting ({pdf_path})')
         return
 
+    dest_xls_path = dest_spreadsheet_path(pdf_path)
+    if os.path.isfile(dest_xls_path):
+        print(f'deleting preexisting xls {dest_xls_path}')
+        os.remove(dest_xls_path)
+
     user = User.objects.get(username=username)
 
     work_dir = workdir(user.username, pdf_path)
@@ -105,8 +110,6 @@ def process_markup_pdf(pdf_path, username):
         print(f'error creating spreadsheet')
         return
 
-    dest_xls_path = dest_spreadsheet_path(pdf_path)
-
     print(f'wrote spreadsheet: {work_xls_path}')
     print(f'copying xls to {dest_xls_path}')