diff --git a/src/backups.js b/src/backups.js
index 8ba1dd4a4..a64049cc6 100644
--- a/src/backups.js
+++ b/src/backups.js
@@ -495,10 +495,9 @@ async function setStorage(storageConfig) {
     }
 
     debug('setStorage: validating new storage configuration');
+    const testMountObject = await setupStorage(storageConfig, '/mnt/backup-storage-validation'); // this validates mountOptions
     const rootPath = getRootPath(storageConfig, '/mnt/backup-storage-validation');
-    const testStorageConfig = Object.assign({ rootPath }, storageConfig);
-    const testMountObject = await setupStorage(testStorageConfig, '/mnt/backup-storage-validation');
-    const testStorageError = await testStorage(testStorageConfig);
+    const testStorageError = await testStorage(Object.assign({ rootPath }, storageConfig)); // this validates provider and it's api options. requires rootPath
     if (testMountObject) await mounts.removeMount(testMountObject);
     if (testStorageError) throw testStorageError;