diff --git a/src/js/restore.js b/src/js/restore.js
index b99260062..958e1ed14 100644
--- a/src/js/restore.js
+++ b/src/js/restore.js
@@ -172,6 +172,13 @@ app.controller('RestoreController', ['$scope', 'Client', function ($scope, Clien
             return;
         }
 
+        if ($scope.backupId.indexOf('box') !== 0) {
+            $scope.error.generic = 'Backup id must start with "box"';
+            $scope.error.backupId = true;
+            $scope.busy = false;
+            return;
+        }
+
         var version = $scope.backupId.match(/_v(\d+.\d+.\d+)/);
         if (!version) {
             $scope.error.generic = 'Backup id is missing version information';