diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/_options.py b/src/ocrmypdf/_options.py
index e686ab92..275483df 100644
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/_options.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/_options.py
@@ -188,6 +188,9 @@ class OcrOptions(BaseModel):
         """Compatibility alias for jpg_quality."""
         self.jpg_quality = value
 
+    # Output behavior
+    no_overwrite: bool = False
+
     # Advanced options
     max_image_mpixels: float = 250.0
     pdf_renderer: str = 'auto'
diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py b/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py
index 06927daa..a662ee69 100644
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/_validation.py
@@ -217,6 +217,17 @@ def check_requested_output_file(options: OcrOptions) -> None:
             f"Output file location ({options.output_file}) is not a writable file."
         )
 
+    if (
+        options.no_overwrite
+        and not hasattr(options.output_file, 'writable')
+        and options.output_file != '-'
+        and Path(str(options.output_file)).exists()
+    ):
+        raise OutputFileAccessError(
+            f"Output file already exists: {options.output_file}\n"
+            "To overwrite it, omit the --no-overwrite / -n option."
+        )
+
 
 def report_output_file_size(
     options: OcrOptions,
diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/api.py b/src/ocrmypdf/api.py
index 605b8b1c..1bd30995 100644
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/api.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/api.py
@@ -440,6 +440,7 @@ def ocr(
     continue_on_soft_render_error: bool | None = None,
     invalidate_digital_signatures: bool | None = None,
     tagged_pdf_mode: str | None = None,
+    no_overwrite: bool | None = None,
     plugins: Iterable[Path | str] | None = None,
     plugin_manager: OcrmypdfPluginManager | None = None,
     keep_temporary_files: bool | None = None,
@@ -502,6 +503,7 @@ def ocr(  # noqa: D417
     continue_on_soft_render_error: bool | None = None,
     invalidate_digital_signatures: bool | None = None,
     tagged_pdf_mode: str | None = None,
+    no_overwrite: bool | None = None,
     plugins: Iterable[Path | str] | None = None,
     plugin_manager: OcrmypdfPluginManager | None = None,
     keep_temporary_files: bool | None = None,
diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/cli.py b/src/ocrmypdf/cli.py
index e590dbac..a4bbf2ff 100644
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/cli.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/cli.py
@@ -137,8 +137,9 @@ Online documentation is located at:
         'output_file',
         metavar="output_pdf",
         help="Output searchable PDF file (or '-' to write to standard output). "
-        "Existing files will be overwritten. If same as input file, the "
-        "input file will be updated only if processing is successful.",
+        "Existing files will be overwritten (use --no-overwrite to prevent this). "
+        "If same as input file, the input file will be updated only if "
+        "processing is successful.",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         '-l',
@@ -190,6 +191,15 @@ Online documentation is located at:
         "may not both use stdout at the same time.",
     )
 
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-n',
+        '--no-overwrite',
+        action='store_true',
+        default=False,
+        help="If the output file already exists, exit with an error instead of "
+        "overwriting it.",
+    )
+
     parser.add_argument(
         '--version',
         action='version',
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 82dc47ce..0a993f95 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -1283,7 +1283,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ocrmypdf"
-version = "17.2.0"
+version = "17.3.0"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "deprecation" },