diff --git a/workflow/rna-seq.nf b/workflow/rna-seq.nf
index c984b25a561397be17448675fe07d1f9bae86ec7..73f293d73572f6d4024e2c07f578e2e2693fcbc5 100644
--- a/workflow/rna-seq.nf
+++ b/workflow/rna-seq.nf
@@ -2217,7 +2217,7 @@ process uploadOutputBag {
   loc=\$(deriva-hatrac-cli --host ${source} put ./\${file} /hatrac/resources/rnaseq/pipeline/output_bag/study/${studyRID}/replicate/${repRID}/\${file} --parents)
   echo LOG: output bag uploaded - \${loc} >> ${repRID}.uploadOutputBag.log
   # url-ify the location
-  loc=\${loc//\//%2F}
+  loc=\${loc//\\//%2F}
   loc=\${loc//:/%3A}
   loc=\${loc// /@20}