diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index ea9a0a05323..49008dcb7cd 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ namespace, under `cylc.jinja.filters`.
 [#3541](https://github.com/cylc/cylc-flow/pull/3541) - Don't warn that a task
 was already added to an internal queue, if the queue is the same.
 
+[#3602](https://github.com/cylc/cylc-flow/pull/3602) - Fix a bug that prevented
+cycle point format conversion by the `cylc suite-state` command and the
+`suite_state` xtrigger function, if the target suite used the default format
+but downstream command or suite did not.
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## __cylc-8.0a2 (2019-Q4?)__
 
diff --git a/cylc/flow/config.py b/cylc/flow/config.py
index 409baaa27b9..cc18109a133 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/config.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/config.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 from cylc.flow.cycling.loader import (
     get_point, get_point_relative, get_interval, get_interval_cls,
     get_sequence, get_sequence_cls, init_cyclers, INTEGER_CYCLING_TYPE,
-    ISO8601_CYCLING_TYPE)
+    ISO8601_CYCLING_TYPE, get_dump_format)
 from cylc.flow.cycling.iso8601 import ingest_time
 import cylc.flow.flags
 from cylc.flow.graphnode import GraphNodeParser
@@ -311,6 +311,8 @@ def __init__(
 
         # after the call to init_cyclers, we can start getting proper points.
         init_cyclers(self.cfg)
+        self.cycling_type = get_interval_cls().get_null().TYPE
+        self.cycle_point_dump_format = get_dump_format(self.cycling_type)
 
         # Running in UTC time? (else just use the system clock)
         if self.cfg['cylc']['UTC mode'] is None:
@@ -374,7 +376,7 @@ def __init__(
             fcp_str = self.cfg['scheduling']['final cycle point']
         if fcp_str is not None:
             # Is the final "point"(/interval) relative to initial?
-            if get_interval_cls().get_null().TYPE == INTEGER_CYCLING_TYPE:
+            if self.cycling_type == INTEGER_CYCLING_TYPE:
                 if "P" in fcp_str:
                     # Relative, integer cycling.
                     self.final_point = get_point_relative(
@@ -1050,7 +1052,7 @@ def compute_runahead_limits(self):
         if not limit:
             limit = None
         if (limit is not None and limit.isdigit() and
-                get_interval_cls().get_null().TYPE == ISO8601_CYCLING_TYPE):
+                self.cycling_type == ISO8601_CYCLING_TYPE):
             # Backwards-compatibility for raw number of hours.
             limit = "PT%sH" % limit
 
diff --git a/cylc/flow/cycling/integer.py b/cylc/flow/cycling/integer.py
index bb8bfe5274b..1a88f7aed10 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/cycling/integer.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/cycling/integer.py
@@ -595,6 +595,12 @@ def init_from_cfg(_):
     pass
 
 
+def get_dump_format(cycling_type=None):
+    """Return cycle point string dump format."""
+    # Not used for integer cycling.
+    return None
+
+
 def get_point_relative(point_expr, context_point):
     """Create a point from relative_string applied to base_point."""
     if REC_RELATIVE_POINT.search(point_expr):
diff --git a/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py b/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py
index 54b67f98365..2c98048eff0 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/cycling/iso8601.py
@@ -843,6 +843,11 @@ def init(num_expanded_year_digits=0, custom_dump_format=None, time_zone=None,
     )
 
 
+def get_dump_format():
+    """Return cycle point string dump format."""
+    return SuiteSpecifics.DUMP_FORMAT
+
+
 def get_point_relative(offset_string, base_point):
     """Create a point from offset_string applied to base_point."""
     try:
diff --git a/cylc/flow/cycling/loader.py b/cylc/flow/cycling/loader.py
index f7c3e0e220b..7451e8e3762 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/cycling/loader.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/cycling/loader.py
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
 POINTS = {INTEGER_CYCLING_TYPE: integer.IntegerPoint,
           ISO8601_CYCLING_TYPE: iso8601.ISO8601Point}
 
+DUMP_FORMAT_GETTERS = {INTEGER_CYCLING_TYPE: integer.get_dump_format,
+                       ISO8601_CYCLING_TYPE: iso8601.get_dump_format}
+
 POINT_RELATIVE_GETTERS = {
     INTEGER_CYCLING_TYPE: integer.get_point_relative,
     ISO8601_CYCLING_TYPE: iso8601.get_point_relative
@@ -73,6 +76,11 @@ def get_point_cls(cycling_type=None):
     return POINTS[cycling_type]
 
 
+def get_dump_format(cycling_type=None):
+    """Return cycle point dump format, or None."""
+    return DUMP_FORMAT_GETTERS[cycling_type]()
+
+
 def get_point_relative(*args, **kwargs):
     """Return a point from an offset expression and a base point."""
     cycling_type = kwargs.pop("cycling_type", DefaultCycler.TYPE)
diff --git a/cylc/flow/scripts/cylc_validate.py b/cylc/flow/scripts/cylc_validate.py
index c1247ab65c6..1cd7e65f7ce 100755
--- a/cylc/flow/scripts/cylc_validate.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/scripts/cylc_validate.py
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ def parse_args():
 @cli_function(parse_args)
 def main(_, options, reg):
     """cylc validate CLI."""
-    # import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
     profiler = Profiler(options.profile_mode)
     profiler.start()
 
diff --git a/cylc/flow/suite_db_mgr.py b/cylc/flow/suite_db_mgr.py
index 2d55844efef..fa3ec70bc64 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/suite_db_mgr.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/suite_db_mgr.py
@@ -291,10 +291,10 @@ def put_suite_params(self, schd):
             {"key": "cylc_version", "value": CYLC_VERSION},
             {"key": "UTC_mode", "value": get_utc_mode()},
         ])
-        if schd.config.cfg['cylc']['cycle point format']:
+        if schd.config.cycle_point_dump_format is not None:
             self.db_inserts_map[self.TABLE_SUITE_PARAMS].append({
                 "key": "cycle_point_format",
-                "value": schd.config.cfg['cylc']['cycle point format']})
+                "value": schd.config.cycle_point_dump_format})
         if schd.pool.is_held:
             self.db_inserts_map[self.TABLE_SUITE_PARAMS].append({
                 "key": self.KEY_HOLD, "value": 1})
diff --git a/tests/suite-state/06-format.t b/tests/suite-state/06-format.t
index ad06f53b395..1649937e2ce 100755
--- a/tests/suite-state/06-format.t
+++ b/tests/suite-state/06-format.t
@@ -15,24 +15,36 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Test cylc suite-state "template" option
+# Test "cylc suite-state" cycle point format conversion, when the target suite
+# sets an explicit cycle point format, and the CLI does not.
 . "$(dirname "$0")/test_header"
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 set_test_number 5
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-install_suite "${TEST_NAME_BASE}" format
+init_suite "${TEST_NAME_BASE}" <<'__SUITERC__'
+[cylc]
+    UTC mode = True
+    cycle point format = CCYY-MM-DD
+[scheduling]
+    initial cycle point = 20100101
+[[graph]]
+    R1 = foo
+[runtime]
+    [[foo]]
+        script = true
+__SUITERC__
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TEST_NAME="${TEST_NAME_BASE}-run"
 suite_run_ok "${TEST_NAME}" cylc run --debug --no-detach "${SUITE_NAME}"
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-TEST_NAME=${TEST_NAME_BASE}-cli-template-poll
+TEST_NAME=${TEST_NAME_BASE}-cli-poll
 run_ok "${TEST_NAME}" cylc suite-state "${SUITE_NAME}" -p 20100101T0000Z \
         --task=foo --status=succeeded
 contains_ok "${TEST_NAME}.stdout" <<__OUT__
 polling for 'succeeded': satisfied
 __OUT__
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-TEST_NAME=${TEST_NAME_BASE}-cli-template-dump
+TEST_NAME=${TEST_NAME_BASE}-cli-dump
 run_ok "${TEST_NAME}" cylc suite-state "${SUITE_NAME}" -p 20100101T0000Z
 contains_ok "${TEST_NAME}.stdout" <<__OUT__
 foo, 2010-01-01, succeeded
diff --git a/tests/suite-state/06a-noformat.t b/tests/suite-state/06a-noformat.t
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..403f75b5e0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/suite-state/06a-noformat.t
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# THIS FILE IS PART OF THE CYLC SUITE ENGINE.
+# Copyright (C) NIWA & British Crown (Met Office) & Contributors.
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Test "cylc suite-state" cycle point format conversion, when the target suite
+# sets no explicit cycle point format, and the CLI does (the reverse of 06.t).
+
+. "$(dirname "$0")/test_header"
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+set_test_number 5
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+init_suite "${TEST_NAME_BASE}" <<'__SUITERC__'
+[cylc]
+    UTC mode = True
+    # (Use default cycle point format)
+[scheduling]
+    initial cycle point = 20100101T0000Z
+[[graph]]
+    R1 = foo
+[runtime]
+    [[foo]]
+        script = true
+__SUITERC__
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+TEST_NAME="${TEST_NAME_BASE}-run"
+suite_run_ok "${TEST_NAME}" cylc run --debug --no-detach "${SUITE_NAME}"
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+TEST_NAME=${TEST_NAME_BASE}-cli-poll
+run_ok "${TEST_NAME}" cylc suite-state "${SUITE_NAME}" -p 2010-01-01T00:00Z \
+        --task=foo --status=succeeded
+contains_ok "${TEST_NAME}.stdout" <<__OUT__
+polling for 'succeeded': satisfied
+__OUT__
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+TEST_NAME=${TEST_NAME_BASE}-cli-dump
+run_ok "${TEST_NAME}" cylc suite-state "${SUITE_NAME}" -p 2010-01-01T00:00Z
+contains_ok "${TEST_NAME}.stdout" <<__OUT__
+foo, 20100101T0000Z, succeeded
+__OUT__
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+purge_suite "${SUITE_NAME}"
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+exit 0
diff --git a/tests/suite-state/format/suite.rc b/tests/suite-state/format/suite.rc
deleted file mode 100644
index 84ccd865335..00000000000
--- a/tests/suite-state/format/suite.rc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-[cylc]
-    UTC mode = True
-    cycle point format = CCYY-MM-DD
-
-[scheduling]
-    initial cycle point = 20100101
-
-[[graph]]
-    R1 = foo
-
-[runtime]
-    [[foo]]
-        script = true