diff --git a/src/views/app.js b/src/views/app.js
index ac41b3eec..798285367 100644
--- a/src/views/app.js
+++ b/src/views/app.js
@@ -1411,7 +1411,11 @@ angular.module('Application').controller('AppController', ['$scope', '$location'
 
             // this also happens for import faliures. this UI can only show backup listing. use CLI for arbit id/config
             case ISTATES.PENDING_RESTORE:
-                repairFunc = Client.restoreApp.bind(null, $scope.app.id, $scope.repair.backupId);
+                if ($scope.repair.backups.length === 0) { // this can happen when you give some invalid backup via CLI and restore via UI
+                    repairFunc = Client.repairApp.bind(null, $scope.app.id, {}); // this will trigger a re-install
+                } else {
+                    repairFunc = Client.restoreApp.bind(null, $scope.app.id, $scope.repair.backupId);
+                }
                 break;
 
             case ISTATES.PENDING_UNINSTALL: