diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1da438e0..5ee28d72 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ environment variables:
     DUCT_REPORT_INTERVAL=120.0
 
     # Set default output location
-    DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX=~/duct-logs/{datetime_filesafe}-{pid}_
+    DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX=~/duct-logs/{datetime}-{pid}_
 
     # Add execution notes (multiline)
     DUCT_MESSAGE="Experiment run for paper revision
@@ -173,11 +173,10 @@ options:
                         File string format to be used as a prefix for the
                         files -- the captured stdout and stderr and the
                         resource usage logs. The understood variables are
-                        {datetime}, {datetime_filesafe}, and {pid}. Leading
-                        directories will be created if they do not exist. You
-                        can also provide value via DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX env
-                        variable. (default:
-                        .duct/logs/{datetime_filesafe}-{pid}_)
+                        {datetime} and {pid}. Leading directories will be
+                        created if they do not exist. You can also provide
+                        value via DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX env variable. (default:
+                        .duct/logs/{datetime}-{pid}_)
   --summary-format SUMMARY_FORMAT
                         Output template to use when printing the summary
                         following execution. Accepts custom conversion flags:
diff --git a/src/con_duct/_duct_main.py b/src/con_duct/_duct_main.py
index 8c2623ee..f83f7db1 100644
--- a/src/con_duct/_duct_main.py
+++ b/src/con_duct/_duct_main.py
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@
 
 lgr = logging.getLogger("con-duct")
 
-DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX = os.getenv(
-    "DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX", ".duct/logs/{datetime_filesafe}-{pid}_"
-)
+DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX = os.getenv("DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX", ".duct/logs/{datetime}-{pid}_")
 EXECUTION_SUMMARY_FORMAT = (
     "Summary:\n"
     "Exit Code: {exit_code!E}\n"
diff --git a/src/con_duct/_models.py b/src/con_duct/_models.py
index 89c45bef..d3400893 100644
--- a/src/con_duct/_models.py
+++ b/src/con_duct/_models.py
@@ -131,7 +131,12 @@ def __iter__(self) -> Iterator[tuple[str, str]]:
     def create(cls, output_prefix: str, pid: None | int = None) -> LogPaths:
         datetime_filesafe = datetime.now().strftime("%Y.%m.%dT%H.%M.%S")
         formatted_prefix = output_prefix.format(
-            pid=pid, datetime_filesafe=datetime_filesafe
+            pid=pid,
+            datetime=datetime_filesafe,
+            # Use of the `datetime_filesafe` format field is deprecated.
+            # The setting of it here is to provide for backwards compatibility
+            # It should be removed eventually
+            datetime_filesafe=datetime_filesafe,
         )
         return cls(
             stdout=f"{formatted_prefix}{SUFFIXES['stdout']}",
diff --git a/src/con_duct/cli.py b/src/con_duct/cli.py
index 2de8b42d..258d00aa 100644
--- a/src/con_duct/cli.py
+++ b/src/con_duct/cli.py
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def _replay_early_logs(log_buffer: List[tuple[str, str]]) -> None:
     DUCT_REPORT_INTERVAL=120.0
 
     # Set default output location
-    DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX=~/duct-logs/{{datetime_filesafe}}-{{pid}}_
+    DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX=~/duct-logs/{{datetime}}-{{pid}}_
 
     # Add execution notes (multiline)
     DUCT_MESSAGE="Experiment run for paper revision
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ def _create_run_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         default=DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX,
         help="File string format to be used as a prefix for the files -- the captured "
         "stdout and stderr and the resource usage logs. The understood variables are "
-        "{datetime}, {datetime_filesafe}, and {pid}. "
+        "{datetime} and {pid}. "
         "Leading directories will be created if they do not exist. "
         "You can also provide value via DUCT_OUTPUT_PREFIX env variable. ",
     )
diff --git a/test/duct_main/test_log_paths.py b/test/duct_main/test_log_paths.py
index 86113756..389904fe 100644
--- a/test/duct_main/test_log_paths.py
+++ b/test/duct_main/test_log_paths.py
@@ -7,7 +7,15 @@
 from con_duct._models import LogPaths, Outputs
 
 
-def test_log_paths_filesafe_datetime_prefix() -> None:
+def test_log_paths_datetime_prefix() -> None:
+    log_paths = LogPaths.create("start_{datetime}")
+    pattern = r"^start_\d{4}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}T\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}.*"
+    for path in asdict(log_paths).values():
+        assert re.match(pattern, path) is not None
+
+
+def test_log_paths_deprecated_datetime_filesafe_prefix() -> None:
+    """Ensure deprecated {datetime_filesafe} format field still works."""
     log_paths = LogPaths.create("start_{datetime_filesafe}")
     pattern = r"^start_\d{4}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}T\d{2}\.\d{2}\.\d{2}.*"
     for path in asdict(log_paths).values():