diff --git a/modules/system/backups.nix b/modules/system/backups.nix
index 4da43c1..8d1d31a 100644
--- a/modules/system/backups.nix
+++ b/modules/system/backups.nix
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ let
   borg = "${pkgs.borgbackup}/bin/borg";
   backup_paths = lib.unique config.modules.system.backups.paths;
   passwd_file = config.sops.secrets."borg_passwd".path;
+  jobs = cfg.jobs
 in
 {
   options.modules.system.backups = {
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ in
           lib.types.listOf lib.types.path   # the paths
         )
       );
-      default = null;
+      default = {};
       description = "Borg backup jobs; each job has a list of paths.";
     };
     repo = lib.mkOption {
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ in
                 --keep-weekly=52 \
                 --keep-monthly=-1
             ''
-          ) cfg.jobs)}
+          ) jobs)}
 
           echo "finshed backup at \"$BORG_REPO::$archive\"
         '';