diff --git a/workflow/scripts/osemosys_global/external_files.py b/workflow/scripts/osemosys_global/external_files.py
index aed344ec..053a1755 100644
--- a/workflow/scripts/osemosys_global/external_files.py
+++ b/workflow/scripts/osemosys_global/external_files.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 def download_file(file: str, url: Path | str) -> None:
     """Downloads a file if the file does not already exist"""
 
-    if Path(path).exists():
+    if Path(file).exists():
         logging.info(f"{file} already exists")
         return