diff --git a/backup.go b/backup.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..adaa99c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backup.go
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package virtbuf
+
+// thank chatgpt for this because why. why write this if you can have it
+// kick this out in 30 seconds
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+func backupFiles(srcDir string, destDir string) error {
+	// Create the destination directory
+	err := os.MkdirAll(destDir, os.ModePerm)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println("Failed to create directory: %v", err)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Walk through the source directory
+	err = filepath.Walk(srcDir, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// Skip if it's not a .test file or if it's a directory
+		if filepath.Ext(path) != ".json" || info.IsDir() {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// Destination file path
+		destPath := filepath.Join(destDir, info.Name())
+
+		// Copy the file
+		if err := copyFile(path, destPath); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println("Failed to copy files: %v", err)
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// copyFile copies a file from src to dest
+func copyFile(src, dest string) error {
+	srcFile, err := os.Open(src)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer srcFile.Close()
+
+	destFile, err := os.Create(dest)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer destFile.Close()
+
+	// Copy the content
+	_, err = io.Copy(destFile, srcFile)
+	return err
+}
diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index 99ce67f..6185010 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
 
 	"google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/protojson"
 	"google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/prototext"
@@ -19,6 +20,12 @@ import (
 func (c *Cluster) ConfigSave() error {
 	var d *Droplets
 	d = new(Droplets)
+
+	// try to backup the current cluster config files
+	if err := backupConfigFiles(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	d.Droplets = c.Droplets
 	if err := ConfigWriteJSON(d, "newdroplets.json"); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("droplets.json write failed")
@@ -71,6 +78,16 @@ func (c *Cluster) ConfigSave() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func backupConfigFiles() error {
+	// make a new dir to backup the files
+	now := time.Now()
+	timestamp := now.Format("2006.01.02.150405")
+	srcDir := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("VIRTIGO_HOME"))
+	destDir := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("VIRTIGO_HOME"), timestamp)
+
+	return backupFiles(srcDir, destDir)
+}
+
 func (c *Cluster) ConfigLoadOld() error {
 	if c == nil {
 		return errors.New("It's not safe to run ConfigLoad() on a nil cluster")
@@ -108,7 +125,6 @@ func (c *Cluster) ConfigLoadOld() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-
 func (c *Cluster) ConfigLoad() error {
 	if c == nil {
 		return errors.New("It's not safe to run ConfigLoad() on a nil cluster")