diff --git a/bin/restic_backup.sh b/bin/restic_backup.sh
index 651991e..520bce0 100644
--- a/bin/restic_backup.sh
+++ b/bin/restic_backup.sh
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ assert_envvars \
 IFS=':' read -ra backup_paths <<< "$RESTIC_BACKUP_PATHS"
 IFS=' ' read -ra extra_args <<< "$RESTIC_BACKUP_EXTRA_ARGS"
 
+#run the commands listed here before running the actual backup.
+PRE_SCRIPT="${INSTALL_PREFIX}/etc/restic/pre_backup.sh"
+test -x "$PRE_SCRIPT" && "$PRE_SCRIPT"
 
 # Set up exclude files: global + path-specific ones
 # NOTE that restic will fail the backup if not all listed --exclude-files exist. Thus we should only list them if they are really all available.