diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7524f75..2b01351 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ PRE_COMMANDS: |-
 ```
 
 The commands specified in `PRE_COMMANDS` are executed one by one.
+In case of a failure, `PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE` will be executed, if set.
+The backup will be aborted if `ABORT_ON_PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE` is set to `"true"`.
 
 ## Execute commands after backup
 
diff --git a/backup b/backup
index 278054b..03e4186 100755
--- a/backup
+++ b/backup
@@ -2,8 +2,15 @@
 set -eo pipefail
 
 function run_commands {
-	COMMANDS=$1
-	while IFS= read -r cmd; do echo "$cmd" && eval "$cmd" ; done < <(printf '%s\n' "$COMMANDS")
+  COMMANDS=$1
+  RESULT=0
+  while IFS= read -r cmd; do
+    echo "$cmd" && eval "$cmd"
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+      RESULT=1
+    fi
+  done < <(printf '%s\n' "$COMMANDS")
+  return $RESULT
 }
 
 function run_exit_commands {
@@ -42,7 +49,19 @@ touch /run/lock/backup.lock
 
 trap run_exit_commands EXIT
 
+set +e
 run_commands "${PRE_COMMANDS:-}"
+pre_result=$?
+set -e
+if [ $pre_result -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "Warning: At least one command of PRE_COMMANDS exited with a non-zero exit code."
+  run_commands "${PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE:-}"
+
+  if [ "${ABORT_ON_PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE:-}" == "true" ]; then
+    rm -f /run/lock/backup.lock
+    exit 1
+  fi
+fi
 
 IFS=" " read -r -a RESTIC_BACKUP_SOURCES <<< "$(replace_spaces "${RESTIC_BACKUP_SOURCES:-/data}")"
 RESTIC_BACKUP_TAGS="${RESTIC_BACKUP_TAGS:-}"
diff --git a/check b/check
index 563fdcf..6d7467e 100755
--- a/check
+++ b/check
@@ -2,8 +2,15 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 function run_commands {
-	COMMANDS=$1
-	while IFS= read -r cmd; do echo $cmd && eval $cmd ; done < <(printf '%s\n' "$COMMANDS")
+  COMMANDS=$1
+  RESULT=0
+  while IFS= read -r cmd; do
+    echo "$cmd" && eval "$cmd"
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+      RESULT=1
+    fi
+  done < <(printf '%s\n' "$COMMANDS")
+  return $RESULT
 }
 
 function run_exit_commands {
@@ -13,7 +20,18 @@ function run_exit_commands {
 }
 
 main() {
+  set +e
   run_commands "${PRE_COMMANDS:-}"
+  pre_result=$?
+  set -e
+  if [ $pre_result -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Warning: At least one command of PRE_COMMANDS exited with a non-zero exit code."
+    run_commands "${PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE:-}"
+
+    if [ "${ABORT_ON_PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE:-}" == "true" ]; then
+      exit 1
+    fi
+  fi
 
   start=$(date +%s)
   echo Starting check at "$(date +"%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")"
diff --git a/prune b/prune
index 11c7053..8ae6fd5 100755
--- a/prune
+++ b/prune
@@ -2,8 +2,15 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 function run_commands {
-	COMMANDS=$1
-	while IFS= read -r cmd; do echo $cmd && eval $cmd ; done < <(printf '%s\n' "$COMMANDS")
+  COMMANDS=$1
+  RESULT=0
+  while IFS= read -r cmd; do
+    echo "$cmd" && eval "$cmd"
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+      RESULT=1
+    fi
+  done < <(printf '%s\n' "$COMMANDS")
+  return $RESULT
 }
 
 function run_exit_commands {
@@ -13,7 +20,18 @@ function run_exit_commands {
 }
 
 main() {
+  set +e
   run_commands "${PRE_COMMANDS:-}"
+  pre_result=$?
+  set -e
+  if [ $pre_result -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Warning: At least one command of PRE_COMMANDS exited with a non-zero exit code."
+    run_commands "${PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE:-}"
+
+    if [ "${ABORT_ON_PRE_COMMANDS_FAILURE:-}" == "true" ]; then
+      exit 1
+    fi
+  fi
 
   start=$(date +%s)