Environment: Arch, GNU sed version 4.9, Bash 5.1.16 Given the following: $ mkdir test $ cat << 'EOF' > test/shopping-list - GNUtella (1 jar) - GNUpcakes (12 pieces) - GNUsabi (100 g) - Bash potatoes (2 kg) - Sed-a cheese (200 g) EOF Attempting backup to an absolute path fails with an obscure error: $ sed --in-place=/var/tmp/*.bak 's/1 jar/2 jars/' test/shopping-list sed: cannot rename test/shopping-list: No such file or directory But it works if the input file is in the current directory: $ cd test $ sed --in-place=/var/tmp/*.bak 's/1 jar/2 jars/' shopping-list $ diff /var/tmp/shopping-list.bak shopping-list 1c1 < - GNUtella (1 jar) --- > - GNUtella (2 jars) Thanks!