diff --git a/cmd/backup.go b/cmd/backup.go
index cd9055afa..ab73f7537 100644
--- a/cmd/backup.go
+++ b/cmd/backup.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func init() {
 
 	restoreCommand.Flags().StringVarP(&restorePath, "backup-file", "b", "", "path of backup database to restore")
 	restoreCommand.Flags().BoolVarP(&force, "force", "f", false, "bypass restore warning")
-	_ = restoreCommand.MarkFlagRequired("backup-path")
+	_ = restoreCommand.MarkFlagRequired("backup-file")
 	backupRoot.AddCommand(restoreCommand)
 }
 
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func runRestore(ctx context.Context) {
 	start := time.Now()
 	err := db.Restore(ctx, restorePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal("Error backing up database", "backup path", conf.Server.BasePath, err)
+		log.Fatal("Error restoring database", "backup path", conf.Server.BasePath, err)
 	}
 
 	elapsed := time.Since(start)
diff --git a/db/backup.go b/db/backup.go
index 86df1f459..050da605e 100644
--- a/db/backup.go
+++ b/db/backup.go
@@ -34,18 +34,18 @@ func backupPath(t time.Time) string {
 
 func backupOrRestore(ctx context.Context, isBackup bool, path string) error {
 	// heavily inspired by https://codingrabbits.dev/posts/go_and_sqlite_backup_and_maybe_restore/
-	backupDb, err := sql.Open(Driver, path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer backupDb.Close()
-
 	existingConn, err := Db().Conn(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	defer existingConn.Close()
 
+	backupDb, err := sql.Open(Driver, path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer backupDb.Close()
+
 	backupConn, err := backupDb.Conn(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err