diff --git a/platform/delete.provision.inc b/platform/delete.provision.inc
index 9937b6222b7633460d49c79883e49e21c4aece61..efedd522e82eef2eab8058623c8a1eba8457417c 100644
--- a/platform/delete.provision.inc
+++ b/platform/delete.provision.inc
@@ -6,8 +6,13 @@
 function drush_provision_drupal_pre_provision_delete($backup_file = NULL) {
   if (d()->type === 'site') {
     drush_set_option('force', true, 'process');
-    drush_invoke("provision-backup", $backup_file);
-    drush_unset_option('force', 'process');
+    if (!empty($backup_file) && !strpos($backup_file, '/')) {
+      drush_set_error('PROVISION_DELETE_BACKUP_NAME_RELATIVE', dt('The passed backup name is a relative path, storing that in the site directory which is going to be deleted is probably not intended. Try an absolute name, or no name to let one be generated.'));
+    }
+    else {
+      drush_invoke("provision-backup", $backup_file);
+      drush_unset_option('force', 'process');
+    }
   }
 }