diff --git a/src/backupformats.js b/src/backupformats.js
index 1674b0176..31bef192a 100644
--- a/src/backupformats.js
+++ b/src/backupformats.js
@@ -19,9 +19,12 @@ function api(format) {
     throw new BoxError(BoxError.INTERNAL_ERROR, `Undefined format ${format}`);
 }
 
-function validateFormat(format) {
+function validateFormat(provider, format) {
+    assert.strictEqual(typeof provider, 'string');
     assert.strictEqual(typeof format, 'string');
 
+    if (provider === 'noop') return null;
+
     if (format === 'tgz' || format == 'rsync') return null;
 
     return new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_FIELD, 'Invalid backup format');
diff --git a/src/backupsites.js b/src/backupsites.js
index 55f946c70..3b5676448 100644
--- a/src/backupsites.js
+++ b/src/backupsites.js
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ async function add(data, auditSource) {
         encryptedFilenames = data.encryptedFilenames || false,
         encryptionPasswordHint = data.encryptionPasswordHint || null;
 
-    const formatError = backupFormats.validateFormat(format);
+    const formatError = backupFormats.validateFormat(provider, format);
     if (formatError) throw formatError;
 
     const nameError = validateName(name);
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ async function createPseudo(data) {
     const encryptionPassword = data.encryptionPassword ?? null,
         encryptedFilenames = !!data.encryptedFilenames;
 
-    const formatError = backupFormats.validateFormat(format);
+    const formatError = backupFormats.validateFormat(provider, format);
     if (formatError) throw formatError;
 
     let encryption = null;