diff --git a/tasks/backup.yml b/tasks/backup.yml
index 01e0a74..66b3518 100644
--- a/tasks/backup.yml
+++ b/tasks/backup.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@
         cmd: "sudo -u {{ gitea_user }} /usr/local/bin/gitea dump -c /etc/gitea/gitea.ini"
         chdir: "{{ gitea_backup_location }}"
       changed_when: true
+  rescue:
+    - name: Starting gitea because backup failed
+      become: true
+      ansible.builtin.systemd:
+        name: gitea
+        state: stopped
+      when: ansible_service_mgr == "systemd"
+
+    - name: print updateing error
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        msg: "failed to backup gitea"
   when:
     - ansible_facts.services["gitea.service"] is defined
     - ansible_facts.services["gitea.service"].state == "running"
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index 13d2e31..33efc57 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -56,5 +56,5 @@ transfer_custom_footer:
     - 'files/gitea_footer/extra_links_footer.tmpl'
     - 'files/extra_links_footer.tmpl'
 
-playbook_version_number: 36  # should be int
+playbook_version_number: 37  # should be int
 playbook_version_path: 'do1jlr.gitea.version'