diff --git a/src/main/java/picard/fingerprint/CheckFingerprint.java b/src/main/java/picard/fingerprint/CheckFingerprint.java
index f09bcd0f86..d8ea9d3a43 100644
--- a/src/main/java/picard/fingerprint/CheckFingerprint.java
+++ b/src/main/java/picard/fingerprint/CheckFingerprint.java
@@ -223,9 +223,7 @@ protected int doWork() {
             outputDetailMetricsFile = DETAIL_OUTPUT;
             outputSummaryMetricsFile = SUMMARY_OUTPUT;
         } else {
-            if (!OUTPUT.endsWith(".")) {
-                OUTPUT += ".";
-            }
+            OUTPUT += ".";
             outputDetailMetricsFile = new File(OUTPUT + FINGERPRINT_DETAIL_FILE_SUFFIX);
             outputSummaryMetricsFile = new File(OUTPUT + FINGERPRINT_SUMMARY_FILE_SUFFIX);
         }