diff --git a/gstlal/bin/gstlal_fake_frames b/gstlal/bin/gstlal_fake_frames
index 755a530664bc36e071b18bcf7fc473ec6ba1424b..bbfdccc0a5446dbd6246cd0d1dcbe4c65a1811ee 100755
--- a/gstlal/bin/gstlal_fake_frames
+++ b/gstlal/bin/gstlal_fake_frames
@@ -171,15 +171,6 @@ from glue.ligolw import utils as ligolw_utils
 ### ------
 ###
 
-##
-# Return the number of digits in a number
-#
-def digits(num):
-	if float(num) == 0:
-		return 1
-	else:
-		return int(numpy.ceil(numpy.log10(float(num))))
-
 
 ##
 # Extract and validate the command line options
@@ -341,8 +332,8 @@ head = pipeparts.mkframecppchannelmux(pipeline, {"%s:%s" % (instrument, options.
 ## 11) Write the frames to disk
 head = pipeparts.mkframecppfilesink(pipeline, head, frame_type = options.frame_type)
 
-# Put O(100) frames in each directory
-head.connect("notify::timestamp", pipeparts.framecpp_filesink_ldas_path_handler, (options.output_path, digits(options.gps_start_time) - digits(options.frame_duration * options.frames_per_file * 100)))
+# Put O(100000 s) frames in each directory
+head.connect("notify::timestamp", pipeparts.framecpp_filesink_ldas_path_handler, (options.output_path, 5))
 
 # Run it
 if pipeline.set_state(Gst.State.READY) == Gst.StateChangeReturn.FAILURE: