diff --git a/dashboard/src/components/BackupProviderForm.vue b/dashboard/src/components/BackupProviderForm.vue
index 8a7b0d26b..826d0334b 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/components/BackupProviderForm.vue
+++ b/dashboard/src/components/BackupProviderForm.vue
@@ -104,6 +104,12 @@ watch(provider, (newProvider) => {
   }
 });
 
+watch(format, (newFormat) => {
+  if (newFormat === 'rsync') {
+    if (provider.value === 'filesystem' || mountlike(provider.value)) providerConfig.value.useHardlinks = true;
+  }
+});
+
 watchEffect(() => {
   if (!providerConfig.value.mountOptionPrivateKey) return;
   providerConfig.value.mountOptionPrivateKey = providerConfig.value.mountOptionPrivateKey.replaceAll('\\n', '\n');