diff --git a/internal/backup/preflight.go b/internal/backup/preflight.go
index dcc895ef..a53ee4a8 100644
--- a/internal/backup/preflight.go
+++ b/internal/backup/preflight.go
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ func RunPreflight(ctx context.Context, dsn, dataDir, workspace string) *Prefligh
 }
 
 func checkPgDump(ctx context.Context) PreflightCheck {
+	if ctx == nil {
+		ctx = context.Background()
+	}
 	path, err := exec.LookPath("pg_dump")
 	if err != nil {
 		return PreflightCheck{