diff --git a/src/backend/BSContar.pm b/src/backend/BSContar.pm
index e8ac7e58112..ce3d385c8fa 100644
--- a/src/backend/BSContar.pm
+++ b/src/backend/BSContar.pm
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ sub compress_entry {
   my $tmp;
   if (!defined($outfile)) {
     open($tmp, '+>', undef) || die("tmp file open: $!\n");
+  } elsif (ref($outfile)) {
+    $tmp = $outfile;
   } else {
     open($tmp, '+>', $outfile) || die("$outfile: $!\n");
   }