diff --git a/dev/gen_synthetic_data.py b/dev/gen_synthetic_data.py
index 2e9117c..5dece29 100644
--- a/dev/gen_synthetic_data.py
+++ b/dev/gen_synthetic_data.py
@@ -348,8 +348,7 @@ num_workers = 4
 
 output_file = get_base_dir() / "identity_conversations.jsonl"
 # Wipe the file clean first to reset it
-if output_file.exists():
-    output_file.unlink()
+output_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
 print(f"Saving to {output_file}")
 
 # Use ThreadPoolExecutor to generate conversations in parallel
diff --git a/nanochat/dataset.py b/nanochat/dataset.py
index ef08d96..8bc5ce5 100644
--- a/nanochat/dataset.py
+++ b/nanochat/dataset.py
@@ -92,11 +92,10 @@ def download_single_file(index):
             print(f"Attempt {attempt}/{max_attempts} failed for {filename}: {e}")
             # Clean up any partial files
             for path in [Path(str(filepath) + ".tmp"), filepath]:
-                if path.exists():
-                    try:
-                        path.unlink()
-                    except:
-                        pass
+                try:
+                    path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+                except:
+                    pass
             # Try a few times with exponential backoff: 2^attempt seconds
             if attempt < max_attempts:
                 wait_time = 2 ** attempt
diff --git a/nanochat/report.py b/nanochat/report.py
index 32dc028..ef19704 100644
--- a/nanochat/report.py
+++ b/nanochat/report.py
@@ -363,12 +363,10 @@ class Report:
         # Remove section files
         for file_name in EXPECTED_FILES:
             file_path = self.report_dir / file_name
-            if file_path.exists():
-                file_path.unlink()
+            file_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
         # Remove report.md if it exists
         report_file = self.report_dir / "report.md"
-        if report_file.exists():
-            report_file.unlink()
+        report_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
         # Generate and write the header section with start timestamp
         header_file = self.report_dir / "header.md"
         header = generate_header()