diff --git a/cmd/backup.go b/cmd/backup.go
index a575220..d6fc840 100644
--- a/cmd/backup.go
+++ b/cmd/backup.go
@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@ var backupCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		err := lock.Lock()
 		CheckErr(err)
 		defer lock.Unlock()
+		dry, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("dry-run")
 
 		selected, err := internal.GetAllOrSelected(cmd, false)
 		CheckErr(err)
+
 		errors := 0
 		for _, name := range selected {
 			var splitted = strings.Split(name, "@")
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ var backupCmd = &cobra.Command{
 				specificBackend = splitted[1]
 			}
 			location, _ := internal.GetLocation(splitted[0])
-			errs := location.Backup(false, specificBackend)
+			errs := location.Backup(false, dry, specificBackend)
 			for _, err := range errs {
 				colors.Error.Printf("%s\n\n", err)
 				errors++
@@ -44,4 +46,5 @@ var backupCmd = &cobra.Command{
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(backupCmd)
 	internal.AddFlagsToCommand(backupCmd, false)
+	backupCmd.Flags().Bool("dry-run", false, "do not write changes, show what would be affected")
 }
diff --git a/docs/pages/cli/backup.md b/docs/pages/cli/backup.md
index 1e014a2..b9847ec 100644
--- a/docs/pages/cli/backup.md
+++ b/docs/pages/cli/backup.md
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 # Backup
 
 ```bash
-autorestic backup [-l, --location] [-a, --all]
+autorestic backup [-l, --location] [-a, --all] [--dry-run]
 ```
 
 Performs a backup of all locations if the `-a` flag is passed. To only backup some locations pass one or more `-l` or `--location` flags.
 
+The `--dry-run` flag will do a dry run showing what would have been deleted, but won't touch the actual data.
+
+
 ```bash
 # All
 autorestic backup -a
diff --git a/internal/location.go b/internal/location.go
index 221c5f3..eca07fe 100644
--- a/internal/location.go
+++ b/internal/location.go
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func (l Location) getLocationTags() string {
 	return buildTag("location", l.name)
 }
 
-func (l Location) Backup(cron bool, specificBackend string) []error {
+func (l Location) Backup(cron bool, dry bool, specificBackend string) []error {
 	var errors []error
 	var backends []string
 	colors.PrimaryPrint("  Backing up location \"%s\"  ", l.name)
@@ -228,6 +228,9 @@ func (l Location) Backup(cron bool, specificBackend string) []error {
 		if cron {
 			cmd = append(cmd, "--tag", buildTag("cron"))
 		}
+		if dry {
+			cmd = append(cmd, "--dry-run")
+		}
 		cmd = append(cmd, "--tag", l.getLocationTags())
 		backupOptions := ExecuteOptions{
 			Envs: env,
@@ -447,7 +450,7 @@ func (l Location) RunCron() error {
 	now := time.Now()
 	if now.After(next) {
 		lock.SetCron(l.name, now.Unix())
-		errs := l.Backup(true, "")
+		errs := l.Backup(true, false, "")
 		if len(errs) > 0 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("Failed to backup location \"%s\":\n%w", l.name, errors.Join(errs...))
 		}