diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 6f0e5ce..ef0e674 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -739,6 +739,9 @@ pub async fn update_whitelist(add: &Vec<String>, server: &str, token: &str, wipe
     };
     post(&format!("{url_base}/files/delete"), &bearer, &deletion).await;
 
+    // recreate teh file, passing in the type here so the compiler knows what type of vec it is
+    post::<Vec<&str>>(&format!("{url_base}/files/write?file=%2Fwhitelist.json"), &bearer, &vec![]).await;
+
     // reload the whitelist
     let data = BodyCommand {
       command: "whitelist reload".to_string(),