diff --git a/rc/core/doc.kak b/rc/core/doc.kak
index 4a8e2d4c..1c49f077 100644
--- a/rc/core/doc.kak
+++ b/rc/core/doc.kak
@@ -5,11 +5,14 @@ def -hidden -params 1..2 doc-open %{
     %sh{
         manout=$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}"/kak-man-XXXXXX)
 
-        # Those options are handled by the `man-db` implementation
+        # This option is handled by the `man-db` implementation
         export MANWIDTH=${kak_window_width}
 
         if man "$1" > "${manout}"; then
-            sed -i "" -e $(printf 's/.\x8//g') -e 's,\x1B\[[0-9;]*[a-zA-Z],,g' "${manout}"
+            readonly manout_noescape=$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}"/kak-man-XXXXXX)
+
+            sed -e $(printf 's/.\x8//g') -e 's,\x1B\[[0-9;]*[a-zA-Z],,g' "${manout}" > "${manout_noescape}"
+            mv -f "${manout_noescape}" "${manout}"
 
             printf %s\\n "
                 edit! -scratch '*doc*'