diff --git a/fdbclient/SystemData.cpp b/fdbclient/SystemData.cpp
index 23a3a021db..61756e5092 100644
--- a/fdbclient/SystemData.cpp
+++ b/fdbclient/SystemData.cpp
@@ -494,6 +494,7 @@ ProcessData decodeWorkerListValue( ValueRef const& value ) {
 const KeyRangeRef backupProgressKeys(LiteralStringRef("\xff/backupProgress/"),
                                      LiteralStringRef("\xff/backupProgress0"));
 const KeyRef backupProgressPrefix = backupProgressKeys.begin;
+const KeyRef backupStartedKey = LiteralStringRef("\xff/backupStarted");
 
 const Key backupProgressKeyFor(UID workerID) {
 	BinaryWriter wr(Unversioned());
diff --git a/fdbclient/SystemData.h b/fdbclient/SystemData.h
index 195e2184c4..2e1d2c5c67 100644
--- a/fdbclient/SystemData.h
+++ b/fdbclient/SystemData.h
@@ -182,6 +182,9 @@ const Value backupProgressValue(const WorkerBackupStatus& status);
 UID decodeBackupProgressKey(const KeyRef& key);
 WorkerBackupStatus decodeBackupProgressValue(const ValueRef& value);
 
+//    "\xff/backupStarted"
+extern const KeyRef backupStartedKey;
+
 extern const KeyRef coordinatorsKey;
 extern const KeyRef logsKey;
 extern const KeyRef minRequiredCommitVersionKey;
diff --git a/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.cpp b/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.cpp
index d0ef2ef77d..f4f2577234 100644
--- a/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.cpp
+++ b/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ void BackupProgress::addBackupStatus(const WorkerBackupStatus& status) {
 std::map<std::pair<LogEpoch, Version>, std::map<Tag, Version>> BackupProgress::getUnfinishedBackup() {
 	std::map<std::pair<LogEpoch, Version>, std::map<Tag, Version>> toRecruit;
 
+	if (!backupStartedValue.present()) return toRecruit; // No active backups
+
 	for (const auto& [epoch, info] : epochInfos) {
 		std::set<Tag> tags = enumerateLogRouterTags(info.logRouterTags);
 		std::map<Tag, Version> tagVersions;
@@ -60,9 +62,11 @@ ACTOR Future<Void> getBackupProgress(Database cx, UID dbgid, Reference<BackupPro
 		try {
 			tr.setOption(FDBTransactionOptions::ACCESS_SYSTEM_KEYS);
 			tr.setOption(FDBTransactionOptions::PRIORITY_SYSTEM_IMMEDIATE);
+			state Optional<Value> value = wait(tr.get(backupStartedKey));
 			Standalone<RangeResultRef> results = wait(tr.getRange(backupProgressKeys, CLIENT_KNOBS->TOO_MANY));
 			ASSERT(!results.more && results.size() < CLIENT_KNOBS->TOO_MANY);
 
+			bStatus->setBackupStartedValue(value);
 			for (auto& it : results) {
 				const UID workerID = decodeBackupProgressKey(it.key);
 				const WorkerBackupStatus status = decodeBackupProgressValue(it.value);
@@ -87,6 +91,7 @@ TEST_CASE("/BackupProgress/Unfinished") {
 	const Tag tag1(tagLocalityLogRouter, 0);
 	epochInfos.insert({ epoch1, ILogSystem::EpochTagsVersionsInfo(1, begin1, end1) });
 	BackupProgress progress(UID(0, 0), epochInfos);
+	progress.setBackupStartedValue(Optional<Value>(LiteralStringRef("1")));
 
 	std::map<std::pair<LogEpoch, Version>, std::map<Tag, Version>> unfinished = progress.getUnfinishedBackup();
 
diff --git a/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.h b/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.h
index 8a0fca2a03..baa3e5554a 100644
--- a/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.h
+++ b/fdbserver/BackupProgress.actor.h
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ public:
 	//        backup [savedVersion + 1, endVersion)
 	std::map<std::pair<LogEpoch, Version>, std::map<Tag, Version>> getUnfinishedBackup();
 
+	// Set the value for "backupStartedKey"
+	void setBackupStartedValue(Optional<Value> value) {
+		backupStartedValue = value;
+	}
+
 	void addref() { ReferenceCounted<BackupProgress>::addref(); }
 
 	void delref() { ReferenceCounted<BackupProgress>::delref(); }
@@ -73,6 +78,9 @@ private:
 	// progress status for a tag in an epoch due to later epoch trying to fill
 	// the gap. "progress" MUST be iterated in ascending order.
 	std::map<LogEpoch, std::map<Tag, Version>> progress;
+
+	// Value of the "backupStartedKey".
+	Optional<Value> backupStartedValue;
 };
 
 ACTOR Future<Void> getBackupProgress(Database cx, UID dbgid, Reference<BackupProgress> bStatus);