diff --git a/rules/build_electricity.smk b/rules/build_electricity.smk
index 5cefc2fc..e6390590 100644
--- a/rules/build_electricity.smk
+++ b/rules/build_electricity.smk
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ if config["enable"].get("build_cutout", False):
             regions_onshore=RESOURCES + "regions_onshore.geojson",
             regions_offshore=RESOURCES + "regions_offshore.geojson",
         output:
-            "cutouts/" + CDIR + "{cutout}.nc",
+            protected("cutouts/" + CDIR + "{cutout}.nc"),
         log:
             "logs/" + CDIR + "build_cutout/{cutout}.log",
         benchmark:
diff --git a/rules/retrieve.smk b/rules/retrieve.smk
index 33c28d5b..6d7e1790 100644
--- a/rules/retrieve.smk
+++ b/rules/retrieve.smk
@@ -35,11 +35,10 @@ if config["enable"].get("retrieve_cutout", True):
         input:
             HTTP.remote(
                 "zenodo.org/record/6382570/files/{cutout}.nc",
-                keep_local=True,
                 static=True,
             ),
         output:
-            "cutouts/" + CDIR + "{cutout}.nc",
+            protected("cutouts/" + CDIR + "{cutout}.nc"),
         log:
             "logs/" + CDIR + "retrieve_cutout_{cutout}.log",
         resources: