diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/Output.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/Output.java
index 6c2b143c4..47a47602a 100644
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/Output.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/Output.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public @interface Output {
      * fail if the type can't be populated.
      * @return True if the argument is required.  False otherwise.
      */
-    boolean required() default true;
+    boolean required() default false;
 
     /**
      * Should this command-line argument be exclusive of others.  Should be