diff --git a/wal/file_pipeline.go b/wal/file_pipeline.go
index e5674e63c..5b282b6cd 100644
--- a/wal/file_pipeline.go
+++ b/wal/file_pipeline.go
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ func newFilePipeline(dir string, fileSize int64) *filePipeline {
 	return fp
 }
 
-// Open returns a fresh file for writing
+// Open returns a fresh file for writing. Rename the file before calling
+// Open again or there will be file collisions.
 func (fp *filePipeline) Open() (f *fileutil.LockedFile, err error) {
 	select {
 	case f = <-fp.filec:
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@ func (fp *filePipeline) Close() error {
 }
 
 func (fp *filePipeline) alloc() (f *fileutil.LockedFile, err error) {
-	fpath := path.Join(fp.dir, fmt.Sprintf("%d.tmp", fp.count))
+	// count % 2 so this file isn't the same as the one last published
+	fpath := path.Join(fp.dir, fmt.Sprintf("%d.tmp", fp.count%2))
 	if f, err = fileutil.LockFile(fpath, os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0600); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}