diff --git a/src/modules/dataman/dataman.cpp b/src/modules/dataman/dataman.cpp
index eb25328a5b..fc42770a96 100644
--- a/src/modules/dataman/dataman.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/dataman/dataman.cpp
@@ -529,6 +529,8 @@ _file_clear(dm_item_t item)
 static int
 _file_initialize(unsigned max_offset)
 {
+	const bool file_existed = (access(k_data_manager_device_path, F_OK) == 0);
+
 	/* Open or create the data manager file */
 	dm_operations_data.file.fd = open(k_data_manager_device_path, O_RDWR | O_CREAT | O_BINARY, PX4_O_MODE_666);
 
@@ -553,7 +555,7 @@ _file_initialize(unsigned max_offset)
 
 	dm_operations_data.silence = false;
 
-	if (compat_state.key != DM_COMPAT_KEY) {
+	if (!file_existed || (compat_state.key != DM_COMPAT_KEY)) {
 
 		/* Write current compat info */
 		compat_state.key = DM_COMPAT_KEY;