diff --git a/roles/postgresql_server/files/backup-database b/roles/postgresql_server/files/backup-database
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..872f359e41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/postgresql_server/files/backup-database
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Backup a database *locally* to /backups/.
+
+DB=$1
+
+/usr/bin/pg_dump -C $DB | /usr/bin/xz > /backups/$DB-$(date +%F).dump.xz
diff --git a/roles/postgresql_server/tasks/main.yml b/roles/postgresql_server/tasks/main.yml
index b459e79155..7e91a6ba27 100644
--- a/roles/postgresql_server/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/postgresql_server/tasks/main.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
 - name: Ensure postgres has a place to backup to
   file: dest=/backups state=directory owner=postgres
 
+- name: Copy over backup scriplet
+  copy: src=backup-database dest=/usr/local/bin/backup-database mode=0755
+
 - name: Set up some cronjobs to backup databases as configured
   template: >
     src=cron-backup-database
diff --git a/roles/postgresql_server/templates/cron-backup-database b/roles/postgresql_server/templates/cron-backup-database
index 2f197d590a..ce3c52d7d4 100644
--- a/roles/postgresql_server/templates/cron-backup-database
+++ b/roles/postgresql_server/templates/cron-backup-database
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0 0 * * * postgres /usr/bin/pg_dump -C {{ item }} | /usr/bin/xz > /backups/{{ item }}-$(date +%F).dump.xz
+0 0 * * * postgres /usr/local/bin/backup-database {{ item }}