diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 640ac9e61d8..70a2d357955 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 # Local overrides--you can use this to change the config for your dev environment (like setting up SQL) without worrying about committing it
 /config/dev_overrides.txt
 /config/dev_preferences.json
+/config/dev_preferences.json.updatebac
 
 #Ignore everything in datafolder and subdirectories
 /data/**/*
diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/preferences.dm b/code/__DEFINES/preferences.dm
index ff375d5b770..31465051e15 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/preferences.dm
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 
 #define TOGGLES_DEFAULT_CHAT (CHAT_OOC|CHAT_DEAD|CHAT_PRAYER|CHAT_PULLR|CHAT_GHOSTPDA|CHAT_GHOSTRADIO|CHAT_BANKCARD|CHAT_GHOSTLAWS|CHAT_LOGIN_LOGOUT)
 
+/// File path to where we save backups of preference savefiles when updating them.
+#define PREFS_BACKUP_PATH(base_path) "[base_path].updatebac"
 /// File path to the dev preference json file, which is loaded by guests while localhosting.
 #define DEV_PREFS_PATH "config/dev_preferences.json"
 
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index 97801af313a..af6d206ccd5 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 
 	var/data_validity_integer = check_savedata_version(savefile.get_entry())
 	if(load_and_save && IS_DATA_OBSOLETE(data_validity_integer)) //fatal, can't load any data
-		var/bacpath = "[path].updatebac" //todo: if the savefile version is higher then the server, check the backup, and give the player a prompt to load the backup
+		var/bacpath = PREFS_BACKUP_PATH(path) //todo: if the savefile version is higher then the server, check the backup, and give the player a prompt to load the backup
 		if (fexists(bacpath))
 			fdel(bacpath) //only keep 1 version of backup
 		fcopy(savefile.path, bacpath) //byond helpfully lets you use a savefile for the first arg.
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 
 	//try to fix any outdated data if necessary
 	if(SHOULD_UPDATE_DATA(data_validity_integer))
-		var/bacpath = "[path].updatebac" //todo: if the savefile version is higher then the server, check the backup, and give the player a prompt to load the backup
+		var/bacpath = PREFS_BACKUP_PATH(path) //todo: if the savefile version is higher then the server, check the backup, and give the player a prompt to load the backup
 		if (fexists(bacpath))
 			fdel(bacpath) //only keep 1 version of backup
 		fcopy(savefile.path, bacpath) //byond helpfully lets you use a savefile for the first arg.