diff --git a/deploy/cassandra_backup.py b/deploy/cassandra_backup.py
index 26796b920f..5f1e6e85e5 100755
--- a/deploy/cassandra_backup.py
+++ b/deploy/cassandra_backup.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def copy():
         print("Snapshot taken.")
     copy()
     print("Making a tarball: {}.tar.gz".format(args.snapshotname))
-    command = "cd {} && tar -czvf {}/{}.tar.gz *".format(tmpdir, args.tardirectory, args.snapshotname)
+    command = "cd {} && tar --remove-files -czvf {}/{}.tar.gz *".format(tmpdir, args.tardirectory, args.snapshotname)
     rc = system(command)
     if rc != 0:
         print("Creation of tar failed")