diff --git a/doc/source/man/glancemanage.rst b/doc/source/man/glancemanage.rst
index 921c645ea4..621bfcad71 100644
--- a/doc/source/man/glancemanage.rst
+++ b/doc/source/man/glancemanage.rst
@@ -57,11 +57,13 @@ COMMANDS
         Place a database under migration control and upgrade, creating
         it first if necessary.
 
-  **db_export_metadefs**
+  **db_export_metadefs [PATH | PREFIX]**
         Export the metadata definitions into json format. By default the
         definitions are exported to /etc/glance/metadefs directory.
+        **Note: this command will overwrite existing files in the supplied or
+        default path.**
 
-  **db_load_metadefs**
+  **db_load_metadefs [PATH]**
         Load the metadata definitions into glance database. By default the
         definitions are imported from /etc/glance/metadefs directory.
 
diff --git a/glance/db/sqlalchemy/metadata.py b/glance/db/sqlalchemy/metadata.py
index dd84f88e80..d5ef53cbaf 100644
--- a/glance/db/sqlalchemy/metadata.py
+++ b/glance/db/sqlalchemy/metadata.py
@@ -464,6 +464,8 @@ def _export_data_to_file(meta, path):
 
         try:
             file_name = ''.join([path, namespace_file_name, '.json'])
+            if isfile(file_name):
+                LOG.info(_LI("Overwriting: %s"), file_name)
             with open(file_name, 'w') as json_file:
                 json_file.write(json.dumps(values))
         except Exception as e: