diff --git a/SCinter.c b/SCinter.c
index 76f5c938..ee443509 100644
--- a/SCinter.c
+++ b/SCinter.c
@@ -415,7 +415,10 @@ int WriteSicsStatus(SicsInterp * self, char *file, int iMot)
   pIDrivable pDriv = NULL;
   void *pTest = NULL;
   char tmpfile[PATH_MAX];
+  char buf[PATH_MAX];
   int l;
+  static int minStatusFileLength = 0;
+  static int firstbad = 1;
 
   assert(self);
   assert(file);
@@ -466,6 +469,27 @@ int WriteSicsStatus(SicsInterp * self, char *file, int iMot)
   if (iMot) {
     fprintf(fd, "Success \n");
   }
+  l = ftell(fd);
+  if (l <= minStatusFileLength) {
+     /* do not rename file, if length is short (this seems to happen when the computer crashes, why?)*/
+     snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "do not write status file with length only %d", l);
+     Log(FATAL,"sys", buf);
+     fclose(fd);
+     strcpy(buf, tmpfile);
+     l = strlen(buf);
+     if (firstbad) {
+       if (l < sizeof buf - 12) {
+         firstbad = 0;
+         snprintf(buf + l, 12, "%ld", time(NULL));
+         rename(tmpfile, buf);
+       }
+     } else {
+       buf[l-1] = '_';
+       rename(tmpfile, buf);
+     }
+     return 1;
+  }
+  minStatusFileLength = l / 2;
   fclose(fd);
   /* rename temporary to final file (this is an atomic action) */
   if (0 > rename(tmpfile, file)) {