diff --git a/ansible/sbin/backup_images b/ansible/sbin/backup_images
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..617a3d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/sbin/backup_images
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/bin/bash -e
+
+START=$1
+BACKUP_DIR="/root/backup"
+
+MACHINES=""
+for nspawn in $(ls /etc/systemd/nspawn/*.nspawn); do
+    nspawn_file=$(basename $nspawn)
+    machine=${nspawn_file%.*}
+    if [ -d "/var/lib/risotto/srv/$machine" ]; then
+        MACHINES="$MACHINES$machine "
+    fi
+done
+
+cd /var/lib/risotto/srv/
+mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"
+for machine in $MACHINES; do
+    machinectl stop $machine || true
+    while true; do
+        machinectl status "$machine" > /dev/null 2>&1 || break
+        sleep 1
+    done
+    BACKUP_FILE="$BACKUP_DIR/backup_$machine.tar.bz2"
+    rm -f "$BACKUP_FILE"
+    tar -cvJf $BACKUP_FILE $machine
+done
+
+if [ -z "$START" ]; then
+    machinectl start $MACHINES
+fi
+
+exit 0