diff --git a/kingfisher/__init__.py b/kingfisher/__init__.py
index c18f57d..596bcca 100644
--- a/kingfisher/__init__.py
+++ b/kingfisher/__init__.py
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ def download_from_aws(odp_link, run_identifier, download_threads, method):
                         else:
                             raise Exception("Programming error")
                 
-    if len(output_files) == 0:
+    if not stdout and len(output_files) == 0:
         raise Exception("No output files found, something went amiss, unsure what.")
 
     logging.info("Output files: {}".format(', '.join(output_files)))