--- a/src/torrent/utils/log.cc
+++ b/src/torrent/utils/log.cc
@@ -296,8 +296,11 @@ log_open_output(const char* name, log_slot slot) {
   
-  if (log_find_output_name(name) != log_outputs.end()) {
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&log_mutex);
-    throw input_error("Log name already used.");
+  log_output_list::iterator itr = log_find_output_name(name);
+  if (itr == log_outputs.end()) {
+    log_outputs.push_back(std::make_pair(name, slot));
+  } else {
+    // by replacing the "write" slot binding, the old file gets closed
+    // (handles are shared pointers)
+    itr->second = slot;
   }
 
-  log_outputs.push_back(std::make_pair(name, slot));
   log_rebuild_cache();