diff --git a/backup/restore.sh b/backup/restore.sh
index 03889ed..91e9c96 100644
--- a/backup/restore.sh
+++ b/backup/restore.sh
@@ -251,6 +251,12 @@ fi
 if [ ! -f "$mcDockerCompose" ]; then
     consoleError '1' "docker-compose configuration ($mcDockerCompose) cannot be found."
 fi
+# backup location?
+if [ -z "$backupLocation" ]; then
+    consoleError '1' "'--backup-location' cannot be unspecified or null/empty."
+elif [ ! -d "$backupLocation" ]; then
+    consoleError '1' "${backupLocation}: directory cannot be found."
+fi
 # change to mailcow directory so commands execute properly
 \cd "${mcConfig%/*}" || consoleError '4' 'Cannot change to mailcow directory as determined from mailcow.conf location.'