diff --git a/src/watchdog/__init__.py b/src/watchdog/__init__.py
index 5fb73c66..26dae75b 100755
--- a/src/watchdog/__init__.py
+++ b/src/watchdog/__init__.py
@@ -1363,7 +1363,11 @@ def do_with_lock(function):
 
     def generate_key():
         if os.path.isfile(key):
-            return
+            if os.path.getsize(key) == 0:
+                logging.info("Purging empty private key file")
+                os.remove(key)
+            else:
+                return
 
         cmd = (
             "openssl genpkey -algorithm RSA -out %s -pkeyopt rsa_keygen_bits:3072" % key