diff --git a/software/ivar/consensus/main.nf b/software/ivar/consensus/main.nf
index cd58c897..a0288365 100644
--- a/software/ivar/consensus/main.nf
+++ b/software/ivar/consensus/main.nf
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ process IVAR_CONSENSUS {
     path "*.version.txt"               , emit: version
 
     script:
-    def software = getSoftwareName(task.process)
-    def prefix   = options.suffix ? "${meta.id}${options.suffix}" : "${meta.id}"
+    def software     = getSoftwareName(task.process)
+    def prefix       = options.suffix ? "${meta.id}${options.suffix}" : "${meta.id}"
+    def save_mpileup = params.save_mpileup ? "tee ${prefix}.mpileup |" : ""
     """
     samtools mpileup \\
         -aa -A -d 0 -Q 0 \\