diff --git a/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/BundlePlugin.java b/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/BundlePlugin.java
index b2f7d35..1a20ad7 100644
--- a/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/BundlePlugin.java
+++ b/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/BundlePlugin.java
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
      *
      * @parameter expression="${manifestLocation}" default-value="${project.build.outputDirectory}/META-INF"
      */
-    protected String manifestLocation;
+    protected File manifestLocation;
 
     /**
      * @component
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@
             Artifact bundleArtifact = project.getArtifact();
             bundleArtifact.setFile(jarFile);
 
-            if (manifestLocation != null && manifestLocation.length() > 0)
+            if (manifestLocation != null)
             {
                 File outputFile = new File( manifestLocation, "MANIFEST.MF" );
 
diff --git a/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/ManifestPlugin.java b/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/ManifestPlugin.java
index 6fb02f2..bf4db79 100644
--- a/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/ManifestPlugin.java
+++ b/bundleplugin/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/bundleplugin/ManifestPlugin.java
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
             throw new MojoExecutionException( "Error trying to generate Manifest", e );
         }
 
-        File outputFile = new File( this.manifestLocation + "/MANIFEST.MF" );
+        File outputFile = new File( this.manifestLocation, "MANIFEST.MF" );
 
         try
         {