diff --git a/modules/nf-core/sratools/prefetch/main.nf b/modules/nf-core/sratools/prefetch/main.nf
index 46e7cb3faa1..74838d53a5e 100644
--- a/modules/nf-core/sratools/prefetch/main.nf
+++ b/modules/nf-core/sratools/prefetch/main.nf
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ process SRATOOLS_PREFETCH {
     path certificate
 
     output:
-    tuple val(meta), path(id), emit: sra
+    tuple val(meta), path(id, type: 'dir'), emit: sra
     path 'versions.yml'      , emit: versions
 
     when: