diff --git a/src/internal/operations/backup.go b/src/internal/operations/backup.go
index 89dbb340d..92a8b93c6 100644
--- a/src/internal/operations/backup.go
+++ b/src/internal/operations/backup.go
@@ -205,10 +205,21 @@ func (op *BackupOperation) Run(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 		return opStats.writeErr
 	}
 
+	opStats.gc = gc.AwaitStatus()
+
+	if opStats.gc.ErrorCount > 0 {
+		opStats.writeErr = multierror.Append(nil, opStats.writeErr, errors.Errorf(
+			"%v errors reported while fetching item data",
+			opStats.gc.ErrorCount,
+		)).ErrorOrNil()
+
+		// Need to exit before we set started to true else we'll report no errors.
+		return opStats.writeErr
+	}
+
 	// should always be 1, since backups are 1:1 with resourceOwners.
 	opStats.resourceCount = 1
 	opStats.started = true
-	opStats.gc = gc.AwaitStatus()
 
 	return err
 }