diff --git a/src/freedombone b/src/freedombone
index 606d0ced4db5799af2275bbb8c6c5a2bf795438c..32d901fa69d5144ae87a0150c222eb6569123e88 100755
--- a/src/freedombone
+++ b/src/freedombone
@@ -7548,8 +7548,10 @@ function configure_backup_key {
   apt-get -y install gnupg
 
   BACKUP_KEY_EXISTS=$(gpg --list-keys "$MY_NAME (backup key)")
-  if [ $BACKUP_KEY_EXISTS != *"error"* ]; then
-      return
+  if [ $BACKUP_KEY_EXISTS ]; then
+      if [ $BACKUP_KEY_EXISTS != *"error"* ]; then
+          return
+      fi
   fi
 
   # Generate a GPG key for backups