diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index c2d501fd30..c4262ac098 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -659,3 +659,11 @@ David  25 Jan 2010
 
     sched/
         transitioner.cpp
+
+David  25 Jan 2010
+    - client: when launching app, delete init_data.xml using switcher
+        prior to trying to write it,
+        in case it's owned by another user (e.g., boinc_project)
+
+    client/
+        app_start.cpp
diff --git a/client/app_start.cpp b/client/app_start.cpp
index dd7fe906c4..7d2bef1b8c 100644
--- a/client/app_start.cpp
+++ b/client/app_start.cpp
@@ -234,6 +234,11 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::write_app_init_file() {
     aid.starting_elapsed_time = checkpoint_elapsed_time;
 
     sprintf(init_data_path, "%s/%s", slot_dir, INIT_DATA_FILE);
+
+    // delete the file using the switcher (Unix)
+    // in case it's owned by another user and we don't have write access
+    //
+    delete_project_owned_file(init_data_path, false);
     f = boinc_fopen(init_data_path, "w");
     if (!f) {
         msg_printf(wup->project, MSG_INTERNAL_ERROR,