diff --git a/platform/backup.provision.inc b/platform/backup.provision.inc
index 3ac59992..50ba38ec 100644
--- a/platform/backup.provision.inc
+++ b/platform/backup.provision.inc
@@ -92,12 +92,12 @@ function drush_provision_drupal_provision_backup() {
     return drush_set_error('PROVISION_BACKUP_PATH_NOT_FOUND', dt('cannot change directory to %dir', array('%dir' => d()->site_path)));
   }
   if (substr($backup_file, -2) == 'gz') {
-    $command = 'tar cpfz %s .';
+    $command = "tar --exclude='./files/php/twig' cpfz %s .";
   }
   elseif (substr($backup_file, -3) == 'bz2') {
-    $command = 'tar cpfj %s .';
+    $command = "tar --exclude='./files/php/twig' cpfj %s .";
   } else {
-    $command = 'tar cpf %s .';
+    $command = "tar --exclude='./files/php/twig' cpf %s .";
   }
   $result = drush_shell_exec($command,  $backup_file);