diff --git a/cg/meta/backup/pdc.py b/cg/meta/backup/pdc.py
index 7f63745498..d45d5b05a3 100644
--- a/cg/meta/backup/pdc.py
+++ b/cg/meta/backup/pdc.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 SERVER = "hasta"
 NO_FILE_FOUND_ANSWER = "ANS1092W"
+MAX_NR_OF_DSMC_PROCESSES: int = 3
 
 
 class PdcAPI:
@@ -39,14 +40,17 @@ def validate_is_dsmc_running(cls) -> bool:
             Exception: for all non-exit exceptions.
         """
         is_dsmc_running: bool = False
+        dsmc_process_count: int = 0
         try:
             for process in psutil.process_iter():
-                if "dsmc" in process.name():
-                    is_dsmc_running = True
+                LOG.debug(process.name())
+                if "dsmc" == process.name():
+                    dsmc_process_count += 1
         except Exception as error:
             LOG.debug(f"{error}")
-        if is_dsmc_running:
-            LOG.debug("A Dsmc process is already running")
+        if dsmc_process_count >= MAX_NR_OF_DSMC_PROCESSES:
+            is_dsmc_running = True
+            LOG.debug("Too many Dsmc processes are already running")
         return is_dsmc_running
 
     def archive_file_to_pdc(self, file_path: str) -> None:
@@ -93,7 +97,7 @@ def validate_is_flow_cell_backup_possible(
             FlowCellEncryptionError if encryption is not complete.
         """
         if self.validate_is_dsmc_running():
-            raise DsmcAlreadyRunningError("A Dsmc process is already running")
+            raise DsmcAlreadyRunningError("Too many Dsmc processes are already running")
         if db_flow_cell and db_flow_cell.has_backup:
             raise FlowCellAlreadyBackedUpError(
                 f"Flow cell: {db_flow_cell.name} is already backed-up"
diff --git a/tests/cli/backup/test_backup_command.py b/tests/cli/backup/test_backup_command.py
index a1b8b17685..d7417eaa50 100644
--- a/tests/cli/backup/test_backup_command.py
+++ b/tests/cli/backup/test_backup_command.py
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ def test_backup_flow_cells_when_dsmc_is_running(
     # THEN exits without any errors
     assert result.exit_code == EXIT_SUCCESS
 
-    # THEN communicate Dsmc process is already running
-    assert "A Dsmc process is already running" in caplog.text
+    # THEN communicate too many Dsmc processes are already running
+    assert "Too many Dsmc processes are already running" in caplog.text
 
 
 def test_backup_flow_cells_when_flow_cell_already_has_backup(