diff --git a/qvm-tools/qvm-backup b/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
index ef8994f6..cc76471e 100755
--- a/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
+++ b/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from qubes.qubesutils import backup_prepare, backup_do_copy
 from optparse import OptionParser
 import os
 import sys
+import getpass
 
 def print_progress(progress):
     print >> sys.stderr, "\r-> Backing up files: {0}%...".format (progress),
@@ -92,8 +93,7 @@ def main():
     if not (prompt == "y" or prompt == "Y"):
         exit (0)
 
-    passphrase = raw_input("Please enter the pass phrase that will be used to encrypt/verify the backup:\n")
-    passphrase = passphrase.replace("\r","").replace("\n","")
+    passphrase = getpass.getpass("Please enter the pass phrase that will be used to encrypt/verify the backup: ")
 
     try:
         backup_do_copy(base_backup_dir, files_to_backup, passphrase, progress_callback=print_progress, encrypt=options.encrypt,appvm=options.appvm)
diff --git a/qvm-tools/qvm-backup-restore b/qvm-tools/qvm-backup-restore
index bf1c1253..6ac22088 100755
--- a/qvm-tools/qvm-backup-restore
+++ b/qvm-tools/qvm-backup-restore
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from optparse import OptionParser
 
 import os
 import sys
+import getpass
 
 def main():
     usage = "usage: %prog [options] <backup-dir>"
@@ -95,8 +96,7 @@ def main():
         restore_options['exclude'] = options.exclude
 
 
-    passphrase = raw_input("Please enter the pass phrase that will be used to decrypt/verify the backup:\n")
-    passphrase = passphrase.replace("\r","").replace("\n","")
+    passphrase = getpass.getpass("Please enter the pass phrase that will be used to decrypt/verify the backup: ")
 
     print >> sys.stderr, "Checking backup content..."
     restore_tmpdir,qubes_xml = backup_restore_header(backup_dir, passphrase, options.decrypt, appvm=options.appvm)