diff --git a/src/niftyone/__main__.py b/src/niftyone/__main__.py
index 1cfabe8..067b69d 100644
--- a/src/niftyone/__main__.py
+++ b/src/niftyone/__main__.py
@@ -19,10 +19,9 @@ def main() -> None:
     out_dir = Path(args.out_dir)
     out_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
 
-    bids.make_dataset_description(out_dir=out_dir)
-
     match args.analysis_level:
         case "participant":
+            bids.make_dataset_description(out_dir=out_dir, overwrite=args.overwrite)
             analysis_levels.participant(
                 bids_dir=args.bids_dir,
                 out_dir=out_dir,
diff --git a/src/niftyone/metadata/bids.py b/src/niftyone/metadata/bids.py
index 0bb39ea..9bd5767 100644
--- a/src/niftyone/metadata/bids.py
+++ b/src/niftyone/metadata/bids.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import niftyone
 
 
-def make_dataset_description(out_dir: Path) -> None:
+def make_dataset_description(out_dir: Path, overwrite: bool) -> None:
     """Create dataset_description.json for BIDS dataset."""
     description = {
         "Name": "NiftyOne",
@@ -23,5 +23,7 @@ def make_dataset_description(out_dir: Path) -> None:
         "License": "LGPL-2.1",
     }
 
-    with (out_dir / "dataset_description.json").open("w") as f:
-        json.dump(description, f, indent=4)
+    ds_fpath = out_dir.joinpath("dataset_description.json")
+    if not ds_fpath.exists() or overwrite:
+        with ds_fpath.open("w") as f:
+            json.dump(description, f, indent=4)
diff --git a/tests/unit/niftyone/metadata/test_bids.py b/tests/unit/niftyone/metadata/test_bids.py
index 9104ac7..4905ed0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/niftyone/metadata/test_bids.py
+++ b/tests/unit/niftyone/metadata/test_bids.py
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
 
+import pytest
+
 import niftyone
 from niftyone.metadata import bids
 
 
-def test_make_dataset_description(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("overwrite", [(True), (False)])
+def test_make_dataset_description(tmp_path: Path, overwrite: bool) -> None:
     out_dir = tmp_path
-    bids.make_dataset_description(out_dir=out_dir)
+    bids.make_dataset_description(out_dir=out_dir, overwrite=overwrite)
 
     # Check file created
     json_fpath = out_dir / "dataset_description.json"