diff --git a/migrations/20250724102340-backupTargets-create-table.js b/migrations/20250724102340-backupTargets-create-table.js
index eb5a484a9..db9e39db7 100644
--- a/migrations/20250724102340-backupTargets-create-table.js
+++ b/migrations/20250724102340-backupTargets-create-table.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ exports.up = async function (db) {
     await db.runSql(cmd);
 
     const results = await db.runSql('SELECT name, value FROM settings WHERE name=? OR name=? OR name=?', [ 'backup_storage', 'backup_limits', 'backup_policy' ]);
+    if (results.length === 0) return;
 
     const name = 'Default', main = true;
     let config = null, limits = null, encryption = null, format = null, provider = null;
diff --git a/src/backuptargets.js b/src/backuptargets.js
index 0a3f0e26a..40376e281 100644
--- a/src/backuptargets.js
+++ b/src/backuptargets.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ exports = module.exports = {
     getPrimary,
     list,
     add,
+    addDefault,
     del,
 
     setConfig,
@@ -485,6 +486,16 @@ async function add(data, auditSource) {
     return id;
 }
 
+async function addDefault() {
+    return await add({
+        name: 'Default',
+        provider: 'filesystem',
+        config: { backupDir: paths.DEFAULT_BACKUP_DIR },
+        retention: { keepWithinSecs: 2 * 24 * 60 * 60 },
+        schedule: '00 00 23 * * *'
+    });
+}
+
 // creates a backup target object that is not in the database
 async function createPseudo(data) {
     assert.strictEqual(typeof data, 'object');
diff --git a/src/provision.js b/src/provision.js
index 9263b85a7..ccf727c08 100644
--- a/src/provision.js
+++ b/src/provision.js
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ async function setupTask(domain, auditSource) {
         await reverseProxy.ensureCertificate(location, {}, auditSource);
         await ensureDhparams();
         await dashboard.setupLocation(constants.DASHBOARD_SUBDOMAIN, domain, auditSource);
+        await backupTargets.addDefault();
         setProgress('setup', 'Done'),
         await eventlog.add(eventlog.ACTION_PROVISION, auditSource, {});
     } catch (error) {