diff --git a/pbs-datastore/src/prune.rs b/pbs-datastore/src/prune.rs
index 70c3d91c..0eaa8acd 100644
--- a/pbs-datastore/src/prune.rs
+++ b/pbs-datastore/src/prune.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use pbs_api_types::PruneOptions;
 
 use super::BackupInfo;
 
-enum PruneMark { Keep, KeepPartial, Remove }
+enum PruneMark { Protected, Keep, KeepPartial, Remove }
 
 fn mark_selections<F: Fn(&BackupInfo) -> Result<String, Error>> (
     mark: &mut HashMap<PathBuf, PruneMark>,
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ fn mark_selections<F: Fn(&BackupInfo) -> Result<String, Error>> (
     for info in list {
         let backup_id = info.backup_dir.relative_path();
         if mark.get(&backup_id).is_some() { continue; }
+        if info.protected {
+            mark.insert(backup_id, PruneMark::Protected);
+            continue;
+        }
         let sel_id: String = select_id(&info)?;
 
         if already_included.contains(&sel_id) { continue; }