diff --git a/core/qubesutils.py b/core/qubesutils.py
index 89ddc740..a5c8f71d 100644
--- a/core/qubesutils.py
+++ b/core/qubesutils.py
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ def file_to_backup (file_path, sz = None):
     assert dir == abs_base_dir
     return [ { "path" : file_path, "size": sz, "subdir": subdir} ]
 
-def backup_prepare(base_backup_dir, vms_list = None, exclude_list = [], print_callback = print_stdout):
+def backup_prepare(vms_list = None, exclude_list = [], print_callback = print_stdout):
     """If vms = None, include all (sensible) VMs; exclude_list is always applied"""
     files_to_backup = file_to_backup (system_path["qubes_store_filename"])
 
diff --git a/qvm-tools/qvm-backup b/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
index b8ddac61..ef8994f6 100755
--- a/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
+++ b/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def main():
 
     files_to_backup = None
     try:
-        files_to_backup = backup_prepare(base_backup_dir, vms_list=vms, exclude_list=options.exclude_list)
+        files_to_backup = backup_prepare(vms_list=vms, exclude_list=options.exclude_list)
     except QubesException as e:
         print >>sys.stderr, "ERROR: %s" % str(e)
         exit(1)