diff --git a/src/cloudron.js b/src/cloudron.js
index b7008b621..39fc06692 100644
--- a/src/cloudron.js
+++ b/src/cloudron.js
@@ -549,6 +549,9 @@ function backup(callback) {
     var error = locker.lock(locker.OP_FULL_BACKUP);
     if (error) return callback(new CloudronError(CloudronError.BAD_STATE, error.message));
 
+    // clearing backup ensures tools can 'wait' on progress
+    progress.clear(progress.BACKUP);
+
     // start the backup operation in the background
     backupBoxAndApps(function (error) {
         if (error) console.error('backup failed.', error);