diff --git a/appinfo.yml b/appinfo.yml
index d16b1be..3df4d67 100644
--- a/appinfo.yml
+++ b/appinfo.yml
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ configdefinition:
                     type: boolean
                     default: false
                     description: An idle repository will never give warnings that there are no recent backups
+                needscopy:
+                    type: boolean
+                    default: true
+                    description: Will backup manager complain if there is no copy of the backup
                 timeout:
                     type: integer
                     # note that the default is also in the python code - in case the host isn't filled in
diff --git a/backupmanager.j2 b/backupmanager.j2
index 063e48b..d3ff954 100644
--- a/backupmanager.j2
+++ b/backupmanager.j2
@@ -243,7 +243,8 @@ for host in allhosts:
         timeout = hosts[host]["timeout"]
     if not idle:
         if not have_a_copy:
-            output_warning(f"We do not have a copy for {host}")
+            if hosts[host]["needscopy"]:
+                output_warning(f"We do not have a copy for {host}")
         if most_recent_backup_ts < time.time()-(timeout*24*3600):
             output_warning(f"Last backup for {host} is too old")