diff --git a/src/backupcleaner.js b/src/backupcleaner.js
index 583affaaa..8be282440 100644
--- a/src/backupcleaner.js
+++ b/src/backupcleaner.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ function applyBackupRetentionPolicy(allBackups, policy, referencedBackupIds) {
             else backup.discardReason = 'creating-too-long';
         } else if (referencedBackupIds.includes(backup.id)) {
             backup.keepReason = 'reference';
-        } else if ((now - backup.creationTime) < (backup.preserveSecs * 1000)) {
+        } else if ((backup.preserveSecs === -1) || ((now - backup.creationTime) < (backup.preserveSecs * 1000))) {
             backup.keepReason = 'preserveSecs';
         } else if ((now - backup.creationTime < policy.keepWithinSecs * 1000) || policy.keepWithinSecs < 0) {
             backup.keepReason = 'keepWithinSecs';