diff --git a/flepimop/R_packages/flepicommon/R/file_paths.R b/flepimop/R_packages/flepicommon/R/file_paths.R
index faf30d2ad..4d144c729 100644
--- a/flepimop/R_packages/flepicommon/R/file_paths.R
+++ b/flepimop/R_packages/flepicommon/R/file_paths.R
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 run_id <- function(){
   rc <- "test"
   try({
-    rc <- format(lubridate::now(),"%Y.%m.%d.%H:%M:%S.%Z")
+    rc <- format(lubridate::now(),"%Y%m%d_%H%M%S%Z")
   }, silent=TRUE)
   return(rc)
 }
diff --git a/flepimop/gempyor_pkg/src/gempyor/file_paths.py b/flepimop/gempyor_pkg/src/gempyor/file_paths.py
index f20f7048c..ee101ea53 100644
--- a/flepimop/gempyor_pkg/src/gempyor/file_paths.py
+++ b/flepimop/gempyor_pkg/src/gempyor/file_paths.py
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ def create_file_name_without_extension(run_id, prefix, index, ftype, create_dire
 
 
 def run_id():
-    return datetime.datetime.strftime(datetime.datetime.now(), "%Y.%m.%d.%H:%M:%S.%Z")
-
+    return datetime.datetime.strftime(datetime.datetime.now(), "%Y%m%d_%H%M%S%Z")
 
 def create_dir_name(run_id, prefix, ftype):
     return os.path.dirname(create_file_name_without_extension(run_id, prefix, 1, ftype, create_directory=False))