diff --git a/backup_manager.py b/backup_manager.py
index 24c2a3b..e7ec427 100644
--- a/backup_manager.py
+++ b/backup_manager.py
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ class BackupManager:
             borg_env["BORG_PASSPHRASE"] = remote["BORG_PASSPHRASE"]
             repo = f"ssh://{backup_user}@{remote_host}/{repo_prefix}/{local_host}/{repo_subdir}::{{{time_format}}}"
             cmd = (
-                f"borg create -v --stats {repo} {backup_dirs} --exclude {exclude_dirs}"
+                f"borg create -v --stats {repo} {backup_dirs}"
             )
+            if exclude_dirs:
+                cmd += f" --exclude {exclude_dirs}"
             try:
                 result = subprocess.run(
                     cmd,