diff --git a/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/README.rst b/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/README.rst
index 8fcff252a..a1af64c47 100644
--- a/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/README.rst
+++ b/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/README.rst
@@ -12,12 +12,6 @@ archive into the log root for viewing.
    Directory relative to zuul_work_dir where build output should be
    found.
 
-.. zuul:rolevar:: sphinx_output_dir
-   :default: html
-
-   Directory relative to sphinx_build_dir where sphinx output will be
-   put.
-
 .. zuul:rolevar:: zuul_work_dir
    :default: {{ zuul.project.src_dir }}
 
diff --git a/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/defaults/main.yaml
index a29e4482f..4c68b3833 100644
--- a/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 ---
 zuul_work_dir: "{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}"
 sphinx_build_dir: doc/build
-sphinx_output_dir: "html"
diff --git a/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/tasks/html.yaml b/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/tasks/html.yaml
index 1e143e9c8..73c2a2759 100644
--- a/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/tasks/html.yaml
+++ b/roles/fetch-sphinx-tarball/tasks/html.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   register: html_archive
 
 - name: Archive HTML
-  command: "tar -f {{ html_archive.path }} -C {{ zuul_work_dir }}/{{ sphinx_build_dir }}/{{ sphinx_output_dir }} -cj ."
+  command: "tar -f {{ html_archive.path }} -C {{ zuul_work_dir }}/{{ sphinx_build_dir }}/html -cj ."
   args:
     warn: false