diff --git a/src/backups.js b/src/backups.js
index 7427d36fd..2bda176e6 100644
--- a/src/backups.js
+++ b/src/backups.js
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ var addons = require('./addons.js'),
     DatabaseError = require('./databaseerror.js'),
     debug = require('debug')('box:backups'),
     eventlog = require('./eventlog.js'),
-    locker = require('./locker.js'),
     filesystem = require('./storage/filesystem.js'),
+    locker = require('./locker.js'),
+    mailer = require('./mailer.js'),
     path = require('path'),
     paths = require('./paths.js'),
     progress = require('./progress.js'),
@@ -418,7 +419,10 @@ function backup(auditSource, callback) {
     progress.set(progress.BACKUP, 0, 'Starting'); // ensure tools can 'wait' on progress
 
     backupBoxAndApps(auditSource, function (error) { // start the backup operation in the background
-        if (error) debug('backup failed.', error);
+        if (error) {
+            debug('backup failed.', error);
+            mailer.backupFailed(JSON.stringify(error));
+        }
 
         locker.unlock(locker.OP_FULL_BACKUP);
     });
diff --git a/src/mail_templates/backup_failed.ejs b/src/mail_templates/backup_failed.ejs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..30768048d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mail_templates/backup_failed.ejs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<%if (format === 'text') { %>
+
+Dear Cloudron Team,
+
+Backup of <%= fqdn %> failed.
+
+Thank you,
+Your Cloudron
+
+-------------------------------------
+
+<%- message %>
+
+<% } else { %>
+
+<% } %>
+
diff --git a/src/mailer.js b/src/mailer.js
index 0515eacc1..db12fe3e2 100644
--- a/src/mailer.js
+++ b/src/mailer.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ exports = module.exports = {
     appDied: appDied,
 
     outOfDiskSpace: outOfDiskSpace,
+    backupFailed: backupFailed,
 
     certificateRenewalError: certificateRenewalError,
 
@@ -438,6 +439,21 @@ function outOfDiskSpace(message) {
     });
 }
 
+function backupFailed(message) {
+    getAdminEmails(function (error, adminEmails) {
+        if (error) return console.log('Error getting admins', error);
+
+        var mailOptions = {
+            from: mailConfig().from,
+            to: config.provider() === 'caas' ? 'support@cloudron.io' : adminEmails.concat('support@cloudron.io').join(', '),
+            subject: util.format('[%s] Failed to backup', config.fqdn()),
+            text: render('backup_failed.ejs', { fqdn: config.fqdn(), message: message, format: 'text' })
+        };
+
+        enqueue(mailOptions);
+    });
+}
+
 function certificateRenewalError(domain, message) {
     assert.strictEqual(typeof domain, 'string');
     assert.strictEqual(typeof message, 'string');