diff --git a/rpi-update b/rpi-update
index 24517ce..f780efc 100755
--- a/rpi-update
+++ b/rpi-update
@@ -138,8 +138,10 @@ function do_backup {
 	echo " *** Backing up files"
 	rm -rf "${FW_PATH}.bak"
 	cp -va "${FW_PATH}" "${FW_PATH}.bak"
-	rm -rf "${FW_MODPATH}.bak"
-	cp -va "${FW_MODPATH}" "${FW_MODPATH}.bak"
+	if [[ ${SKIP_KERNEL} -eq 0 ]]; then
+		rm -rf "${FW_MODPATH}.bak"
+		cp -va "${FW_MODPATH}" "${FW_MODPATH}.bak"
+	fi
 }
 
 function do_update {