diff --git a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/util.go b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/util.go
index 59440a1322e6..7c39364dc17d 100644
--- a/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/util.go
+++ b/cmd/clusterctl/cmd/util.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ func printYamlOutput(printer client.YamlPrinter, outputFile string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	outputFile = filepath.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(outputFile))
 	yaml = append(yaml, '\n')
 	if outputFile == "" || outputFile == "-" {
 		if _, err := os.Stdout.Write(yaml); err != nil {
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ func printYamlOutput(printer client.YamlPrinter, outputFile string) error {
 		}
 		return nil
 	}
-
+	outputFile = filepath.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(outputFile))
 	if err := os.WriteFile(outputFile, yaml, 0600); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to write to destination file")
 	}