diff --git a/src/backuptask.js b/src/backuptask.js
index c70eeaa47..7d92127c5 100644
--- a/src/backuptask.js
+++ b/src/backuptask.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ exports = module.exports = {
     restore,
 
     downloadApp,
+    backupApp,
 
     backupMail,
     downloadMail,
@@ -302,6 +303,24 @@ async function rotateAppBackup(backupConfig, app, tag, options, progressCallback
     return id;
 }
 
+async function backupApp(app, options, progressCallback) {
+    assert.strictEqual(typeof app, 'object');
+    assert.strictEqual(typeof options, 'object');
+    assert.strictEqual(typeof progressCallback, 'function');
+
+    let backupId = null;
+    await locks.wait(`${locks.TYPE_APP_BACKUP_PREFIX}${app.id}`);
+    if (options.snapshotOnly) {
+        await snapshotApp(app, progressCallback);
+    } else {
+        const tag = (new Date()).toISOString().replace(/[T.]/g, '-').replace(/[:Z]/g,'');
+        backupId = await backupAppWithTag(app, tag, options, progressCallback);
+    }
+    await locks.release(`${locks.TYPE_APP_BACKUP_PREFIX}${app.id}`);
+
+    return backupId;
+}
+
 async function snapshotApp(app, progressCallback) {
     assert.strictEqual(typeof app, 'object');
     assert.strictEqual(typeof progressCallback, 'function');
@@ -512,18 +531,9 @@ async function appBackup(appId, options, progressCallback) {
     const app = await apps.get(appId);
     if (!app) throw new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_FIELD, 'App not found');
 
-    let backupId = null;
     await progressCallback({ percent: 1, message: `Backing up ${app.fqdn}. Waiting for lock` });
-    await locks.wait(`${locks.TYPE_APP_BACKUP_PREFIX}${app.id}`);
     const startTime = new Date();
-    if (options.snapshotOnly) {
-        await snapshotApp(app, progressCallback);
-    } else {
-        const tag = (new Date()).toISOString().replace(/[T.]/g, '-').replace(/[:Z]/g,'');
-        backupId = await backupAppWithTag(app, tag, options, progressCallback);
-    }
-    await locks.release(`${locks.TYPE_APP_BACKUP_PREFIX}${app.id}`);
-
+    const backupId = await backupApp(app, options, progressCallback);
     await progressCallback({ percent: 100, message: `app ${app.fqdn} backup finished. Took ${(new Date() - startTime)/1000} seconds` });
     return backupId;
 }