diff --git a/settings.py b/settings.py
index 5828100..95451ca 100644
--- a/settings.py
+++ b/settings.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class BuypeebSettings:
 		self.jwatchlist = {}
 		self.location = location
 
-	def save(self):
+	def save(self, backup = False):
 		for id, item in self.watchlist.items():
 			self.jwatchlist[id] = {
 				"name": item.name,
@@ -23,15 +23,20 @@ class BuypeebSettings:
 				"favourite": False
 			}
 
-		self.watchlist = {}
+		# create a shallow copy to avoid deleting the actual watchlist
+		out_dict = self.__dict__.copy()
+		out_dict['watchlist'] = {}
 
-		print(self.__dict__)
-		json.dump(self.__dict__, open(self.location + "config.json", 'w'))
+		filename = "config.json"
+		if backup:
+			filename += ".bak"
+		json.dump(out_dict, open(self.location + filename, 'w'))
 
 	def load(self):
 		if not path.isfile(self.location + "config.json"):
 			os.makedirs(self.location, 0o755, True)
 			open(self.location + "config.json", 'x')
+			open(self.location + "config.json.bak", 'x')
 		else:
 			try:
 				j = json.load(open(self.location + "config.json", 'r'))
@@ -42,6 +47,8 @@ class BuypeebSettings:
 
 				self.jwatchlist = {}
 
+				self.save(backup = True)
+
 			except:
 				raise
 				print("Couldn't load settings - using defaults")