diff --git a/icebergs_io.F90 b/icebergs_io.F90
index 38314d7..cfff9ca 100644
--- a/icebergs_io.F90
+++ b/icebergs_io.F90
@@ -910,7 +910,6 @@ subroutine write_trajectory(trajectory)
           write(filename,'(A,".",I6.6)') trim(filename), mpp_pe() 
        endif
     endif
-  if (verbose) write(*,'(2a)') 'diamonds, write_trajectory: creating ',filename
 
   io_is_in_append_mode = .false.
   iret = nf_create(filename, NF_NOCLOBBER, ncid)
@@ -919,6 +918,13 @@ subroutine write_trajectory(trajectory)
     io_is_in_append_mode = .true.
     if (iret .ne. NF_NOERR) write(stderrunit,*) 'diamonds, write_trajectory: nf_open failed'
   endif
+  if (verbose) then
+    if (io_is_in_append_mode) then
+      write(*,'(2a)') 'diamonds, write_trajectory: appending to ',filename
+    else
+      write(*,'(2a)') 'diamonds, write_trajectory: creating ',filename
+    endif
+  endif
 
   if (io_is_in_append_mode) then
     iret = nf_inq_dimid(ncid, 'i', i_dim)