diff --git a/gc3libs/cmdline.py b/gc3libs/cmdline.py
index 6a8ab924..fbd2232c 100755
--- a/gc3libs/cmdline.py
+++ b/gc3libs/cmdline.py
@@ -1031,9 +1031,12 @@ def _fix_output_dir(self, task, name):
         except AttributeError:
             # no subtasks
             pass
-        if 'task' in task:
+        try:
             # RetryableTask
             self._fix_output_dir(task.task, name)
+        except AttributeError:
+            # not a RetryableTask
+            pass
 
     def setup_common_options(self, parser):
         # 1. job requirements