diff --git a/sysmisc.c b/sysmisc.c
index b41ea68..1bc27d2 100644
--- a/sysmisc.c
+++ b/sysmisc.c
@@ -400,6 +400,7 @@ void ezconf_write_start(Ezconf_write *ezcw, Confopt_w *opts, size_t optscount) {
   switch (conf_save_start(&ezcw->save)) {
   case Conf_save_start_ok:
     error = Ezconf_write_ok;
+    ezcw->file = ezcw->save.tempfile;
     break;
   case Conf_save_start_alloc_failed:
     error = Ezconf_write_oom;
@@ -523,6 +524,7 @@ cancel:
   conf_save_cancel(&ezcw->save);
   // ^- Sets tempfile to null, which we use as a guard at the top of this
   //    function.
+  ezcw->file = NULL;
   ezcw->stateflags = 0;
   return false;
 commit:;
@@ -541,6 +543,7 @@ commit:;
     error = Ezconf_write_rename_failed;
     break;
   }
+  ezcw->file = NULL;
   ezcw->error = error;
   ezcw->stateflags = 0;
   return false;
diff --git a/sysmisc.h b/sysmisc.h
index 8bcaf75..0e8dd1b 100644
--- a/sysmisc.h
+++ b/sysmisc.h
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ typedef struct {
   Confopt_w *opts;
   size_t optscount;
   intptr_t optid;
+  FILE *file;
   Ezconf_write_error error;
   U32 stateflags;
 } Ezconf_write;
diff --git a/tui_main.c b/tui_main.c
index d003e5b..5981e1c 100644
--- a/tui_main.c
+++ b/tui_main.c
@@ -2433,11 +2433,11 @@ void save_prefs_with_error_message(Midi_mode const *midi_mode, int softmargin_y,
     switch (ez.optid) {
 #ifdef FEAT_PORTMIDI
     case Confopt_portmidi_output_device:
-      fputs(osoc(midi_output_device_name), ez.save.tempfile);
+      fputs(osoc(midi_output_device_name), ez.file);
       break;
 #endif
     case Confopt_margins:
-      fprintf(ez.save.tempfile, "%dx%d", softmargin_x, softmargin_y);
+      fprintf(ez.file, "%dx%d", softmargin_x, softmargin_y);
       break;
     }
   }