diff --git a/roles/stage_items/tasks/stage_s3_download.yml b/roles/stage_items/tasks/stage_s3_download.yml
index e7dc259..82075db 100644
--- a/roles/stage_items/tasks/stage_s3_download.yml
+++ b/roles/stage_items/tasks/stage_s3_download.yml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
     - name: "{{ stage_dest }} remove archive file"
       file:
-        path: "{{ stage_dest }}/{{ stage_item.object }}"
+        path: "{{ stage_dest }}/{{ stage_item.object | basename  }}"
         state: absent
       # removing the archive file is a non-change, because it will be re-downloaded every time
       # the unarchive step is the real indication of changed/not changed