diff --git a/sbin/bashup.sh b/sbin/bashup.sh
index 36b0a23..00eedbd 100755
--- a/sbin/bashup.sh
+++ b/sbin/bashup.sh
@@ -168,6 +168,10 @@ function bashup::remove_expired_backups () {
   # check for and set directory var
   if [ -n "$1" ]; then
     directory=$1
+    # make sure existing_backups array is set
+    if [[ -z $existing_backups ]]; then
+      bashup::set-existing_backups
+    fi
   else
     echo "ERROR: directory var not set"
     return 1