diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 231f3aa08..520f26e72 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ app.use((err, req, res, next) => {
     log.error(err.message);
 });
 
+// triggers sync timer
 require('./services/sync');
 
+// triggers backup timer
+require('./services/backup');
+
 module.exports = app;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/api/tree.js b/routes/api/tree.js
index 99da35c79..718cf08bc 100644
--- a/routes/api/tree.js
+++ b/routes/api/tree.js
@@ -4,12 +4,9 @@ const express = require('express');
 const router = express.Router();
 const sql = require('../../services/sql');
 const utils = require('../../services/utils');
-const backup = require('../../services/backup');
 const auth = require('../../services/auth');
 
 router.get('/', auth.checkApiAuth, async (req, res, next) => {
-    await backup.regularBackup();
-
     const notes = await sql.getResults("select "
         + "notes_tree.*, "
         + "COALESCE(clone.note_title, notes.note_title) as note_title, "
diff --git a/services/backup.js b/services/backup.js
index d0999f8d7..3bacfa510 100644
--- a/services/backup.js
+++ b/services/backup.js
@@ -6,10 +6,6 @@ const fs = require('fs-extra');
 const dataDir = require('./data_dir');
 const log = require('./log');
 
-if (!fs.existsSync(dataDir.BACKUP_DIR)) {
-    fs.mkdirSync(dataDir.BACKUP_DIR, 0o700);
-}
-
 async function regularBackup() {
     const now = utils.nowTimestamp();
     const last_backup_date = parseInt(await sql.getOption('last_backup_date'));
@@ -55,7 +51,15 @@ async function cleanupOldBackups() {
     });
 }
 
+if (!fs.existsSync(dataDir.BACKUP_DIR)) {
+    fs.mkdirSync(dataDir.BACKUP_DIR, 0o700);
+}
+
+setInterval(regularBackup, 60 * 60 * 1000);
+
+// kickoff backup immediately
+setTimeout(regularBackup, 1000);
+
 module.exports = {
-    regularBackup,
     backupNow
 };
\ No newline at end of file