diff --git a/scripts/medley/medley.command b/scripts/medley/medley.command
index 041877d1..c1b19795 100755
--- a/scripts/medley/medley.command
+++ b/scripts/medley/medley.command
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ the value begins with a \"-\", which is not allowed."
 check_file_writeable_or_creatable() {
   local_msg_core="\"$2\" given as the value of the \"$1\" flag"
   local_err_msg=""
-  if [ -e "$%2" ]
+  if [ -e "$2" ]
   then
     if [ ! -f "$2" ]
     then
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ Exiting"
 check_dir_writeable_or_creatable() {
   local_msg_core="\"$2\" given as the value of the \"$1\" flag"
   local_err_msg=""
-  if [ -e "$%2" ]
+  if [ -e "$2" ]
   then
     if [ ! -d "$2" ]
     then
diff --git a/scripts/medley/medley_utils.sh b/scripts/medley/medley_utils.sh
index a623e373..9f10a65f 100644
--- a/scripts/medley/medley_utils.sh
+++ b/scripts/medley/medley_utils.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ the value begins with a \"-\", which is not allowed."
 check_file_writeable_or_creatable() {
   local_msg_core="\"$2\" given as the value of the \"$1\" flag"
   local_err_msg=""
-  if [ -e "$%2" ]
+  if [ -e "$2" ]
   then
     if [ ! -f "$2" ]
     then
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ Exiting"
 check_dir_writeable_or_creatable() {
   local_msg_core="\"$2\" given as the value of the \"$1\" flag"
   local_err_msg=""
-  if [ -e "$%2" ]
+  if [ -e "$2" ]
   then
     if [ ! -d "$2" ]
     then