diff --git a/doc/fixes35.0 b/doc/fixes35.0
index e3d5965cb..f558c3c66 100644
--- a/doc/fixes35.0
+++ b/doc/fixes35.0
@@ -402,6 +402,8 @@ hangup save made during magic mapping or <foo> detection performed while
 	underwater could put hero on top of the water after restore
 items conferring life drain resistance were affected by drain life spell
 'a'pply command could be used to recogniize undiscovered potions of oil
+fix replacing an existing bones file in wizard mode [load?y, unlink?n, die?y,
+	save?y, replace?y] for configurations using external file compression
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/bones.c b/src/bones.c
index 8358490cf..b762e5a00 100644
--- a/src/bones.c
+++ b/src/bones.c
@@ -293,7 +293,6 @@ struct obj *corpse;
 	fd = open_bonesfile(&u.uz, &bonesid);
 	if (fd >= 0) {
 		(void) close(fd);
-		compress_bonesfile();
 #ifdef WIZARD
 		if (wizard) {
 		    if (yn("Bones file already exists.  Replace it?") == 'y') {
@@ -302,6 +301,9 @@ struct obj *corpse;
 		    }
 		}
 #endif
+		/* compression can change the file's name, so must
+		   wait until after any attempt to delete this file */
+		compress_bonesfile();
 		return;
 	}