diff --git a/cmd/backup/run_script.go b/cmd/backup/run_script.go
index 020cb2f1..e6e9fe36 100644
--- a/cmd/backup/run_script.go
+++ b/cmd/backup/run_script.go
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ func runScript(c *Config) (err error) {
 
 	s := newScript(c)
 
+	if initErr := s.initNotifications(); initErr != nil {
+		err = errwrap.Wrap(initErr, "error initializing notifications")
+		return
+	}
+
 	unlock, lockErr := s.lock("/var/lock/dockervolumebackup.lock")
 	if lockErr != nil {
 		err = errwrap.Wrap(lockErr, "error acquiring file lock")
diff --git a/cmd/backup/script.go b/cmd/backup/script.go
index e1f29da9..777a80c2 100644
--- a/cmd/backup/script.go
+++ b/cmd/backup/script.go
@@ -219,6 +219,10 @@ func (s *script) init() error {
 		s.storages = append(s.storages, dropboxBackend)
 	}
 
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *script) initNotifications() error {
 	if s.c.EmailNotificationRecipient != "" {
 		emailURL := fmt.Sprintf(
 			"smtp://%s:%s@%s:%d/?from=%s&to=%s",
@@ -253,6 +257,7 @@ func (s *script) init() error {
 
 		tmpl := template.New("")
 		tmpl.Funcs(templateHelpers)
+		var err error
 		tmpl, err = tmpl.Parse(defaultNotifications)
 		if err != nil {
 			return errwrap.Wrap(err, "unable to parse default notifications templates")
@@ -281,6 +286,5 @@ func (s *script) init() error {
 			return s.notifySuccess()
 		})
 	}
-
 	return nil
 }