diff --git a/src/base/trace.cc b/src/base/trace.cc
index 1a035d4005..fa55e42a90 100644
--- a/src/base/trace.cc
+++ b/src/base/trace.cc
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ void
 setOutput(const string &filename)
 {
     dprintf_stream = simout.find(filename);
+    if (!dprintf_stream)
+        dprintf_stream = simout.create(filename);
 }
 
 ObjectMatch ignore;