diff --git a/docker/mongo-backup.sh b/docker/mongo-backup.sh
index aebcbb5..c4b88ab 100755
--- a/docker/mongo-backup.sh
+++ b/docker/mongo-backup.sh
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ cd $BACKUPDIR
 tar -Jcf $ARCHIVE dump-$DATE/
 rm -rf dump-$DATE
 
-rm -v $(ls $BACKUPDIR/mongo-live-*.tar.xz | head -n -7)
+TO_DELETE="$(ls $BACKUPDIR/mongo-live-*.tar.xz | head -n -7)"
+[ -z "$TO_DELETE" ] || rm -v $TO_DELETE
 
 rsync -4 -va $BACKUPDIR/mongo-live-*.tar.xz cloud-backup@swami-direct.blender.cloud:/data/cloud-backup/