diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_cookie.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_cookie.py
index 3b16ca5..3a7244e 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_cookie.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_cookie.py
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ class CookieHandler:
             print("no cookie imported")
             raise FileNotFoundError
 
+        if os.path.exists(self.COOKIE_PATH):
+            return self.COOKIE_PATH
+
         with open(self.COOKIE_PATH, "w", encoding="utf-8") as cookie_file:
             cookie_file.write(cookie)