diff --git a/src/storage/filesystem.js b/src/storage/filesystem.js
index 4f4592f46..d82c87dd5 100644
--- a/src/storage/filesystem.js
+++ b/src/storage/filesystem.js
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ function checkPreconditions(apiConfig, dataLayout, callback) {
             if (result.mountpoint === '/') return callback(new BoxError(BoxError.FS_ERROR, `${apiConfig.backupFolder} is not mounted`));
         }
 
-        const needed = used + (1024 * 1024 * 1024); // check if there is atleast 1GB left afterwards
+        const needed = 0.6 * used + (1024 * 1024 * 1024); // check if there is atleast 1GB left afterwards. aim for 60% because rsync/tgz won't need full 100%
         if (result.available <= needed) return callback(new BoxError(BoxError.FS_ERROR, `Not enough disk space for backup. Needed: ${prettyBytes(needed)} Available: ${prettyBytes(result.available)}`));
 
         callback(null);