diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py
index 27371429..4263345e 100644
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubesutils.py
@@ -1005,6 +1005,15 @@ def backup_do(base_backup_dir, files_to_backup, progress_callback = None):
 
 def backup_do_copy(appvm, base_backup_dir, files_to_backup, progress_callback = None):
 
+    # does the vm exist?
+    qvm_collection = QubesVmCollection()
+    qvm_collection.lock_db_for_reading()
+    qvm_collection.load()
+    
+    vm = qvm_collection.get_vm_by_name(appvm)
+    if vm is None or vm.qid not in qvm_collection:
+        raise QubesException("VM {0} does not exist".format(appvm))
+
     total_backup_sz = 0
     for file in files_to_backup:
         total_backup_sz += file["size"]
@@ -1026,7 +1035,7 @@ def backup_do_copy(appvm, base_backup_dir, files_to_backup, progress_callback =
         progress_callback(progress)
         dest_dir = backup_dir + '/' + file["subdir"]
         if file["subdir"] != "":
-            retcode = subprocess.call (["qvm-run", "-p", appvm, "mkdir -p " + dest_dir])
+            retcode = vm.run(["qvm-run", "-p", appvm, "mkdir -p " + dest_dir])
             if retcode != 0:
                 raise QubesException("Cannot create directory: {0}?!".format(dest_dir))
 
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-backup b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
index cee29e3b..fafb9eb2 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-backup
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 from qubes.qubes import QubesVmCollection
 from qubes.qubes import QubesException
-from qubes.qubesutils import backup_prepare, backup_do
+from qubes.qubesutils import backup_prepare, backup_do_copy
 from optparse import OptionParser
 import os
 import sys
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def main():
         exit (0)
 
     try:
-        backup_do(base_backup_dir, files_to_backup, progress_callback=print_progress)
+        backup_do_copy("storage", base_backup_dir, files_to_backup, progress_callback=print_progress)
     except QubesException as e:
         print >>sys.stderr, "ERROR: %s" % str(e)
         exit(1)