diff --git a/models/sipnet/R/write.configs.SIPNET.R b/models/sipnet/R/write.configs.SIPNET.R
index 3fd4684dfcc..dc4c48be38d 100755
--- a/models/sipnet/R/write.configs.SIPNET.R
+++ b/models/sipnet/R/write.configs.SIPNET.R
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ write.config.SIPNET <- function(defaults, trait.values, settings, run.id, inputs
   cpruncmd <- cpoutcmd <- rmoutdircmd <- rmrundircmd <- ""
   if (!is.null(settings$host$rabbitmq)) {
     #rsync cmd from remote to local host.
+    settings$host$rabbitmq$cpfcmd <- ifelse(is.null(settings$host$rabbitmq$cpfcmd), "", settings$host$rabbitmq$cpfcmd)
     cpruncmd <- gsub("@OUTDIR@", settings$host$rundir, settings$host$rabbitmq$cpfcmd)
     cpruncmd <- gsub("@OUTFOLDER@", rundir, cpruncmd)
     
@@ -630,4 +631,4 @@ remove.config.SIPNET <- function(main.outdir, settings) {
   } else {
     print("*** WARNING: Removal of files on remote host not yet implemented ***")
   }
-} # remove.config.SIPNET 
\ No newline at end of file
+} # remove.config.SIPNET