diff --git a/package/base-files/files/usr/libexec/validate_firmware_image b/package/base-files/files/usr/libexec/validate_firmware_image
index a07796c9dc..f85fb9e4b4 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/usr/libexec/validate_firmware_image
+++ b/package/base-files/files/usr/libexec/validate_firmware_image
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ include /lib/upgrade
 
 VALID=1
 FORCEABLE=1
+ALLOW_BACKUP=1
 
 # Mark image as invalid but still possible to install
 notify_firmware_invalid() {
@@ -20,6 +21,11 @@ notify_firmware_broken() {
 	FORCEABLE=0
 }
 
+# Mark image as incompatible with preserving a backup
+notify_firmware_no_backup() {
+	ALLOW_BACKUP=0
+}
+
 # Add result of validation test
 notify_firmware_test_result() {
 	local old_ns
@@ -55,5 +61,6 @@ json_init
 	json_close_object
 	json_add_boolean valid "$VALID"
 	json_add_boolean forceable "$FORCEABLE"
+	json_add_boolean allow_backup "$ALLOW_BACKUP"
 json_dump -i
 json_set_namespace $old_ns