diff --git a/flight_analysis.py b/flight_analysis.py
index cfcf6c6..81b4ec0 100644
--- a/flight_analysis.py
+++ b/flight_analysis.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import utils
 import os
+import sys
 
 # logging
 logger_name = os.path.basename(__file__)
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ def compute_iteration_time(start: datetime, end: datetime):
 def get_routes_df(routes: list):
     """
     Returns a pandas dataframe with all the scraped results.
-    
+
     Input: routes (list of lists)
     """
     # compute number of total scrapes
@@ -106,6 +107,8 @@ def get_routes_df(routes: list):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    SKIP_SAVE_TO_DB = len(sys.argv) > 1 and sys.argv[1] == "nodb"
+
     # retreive routes to scrape
     routes = read_routes_from_file()
 
@@ -125,7 +128,8 @@ def get_routes_df(routes: list):
     db.prepare_db_and_tables(overwrite_table=False)
 
     # add results to database
-    db.add_pandas_df_to_db(scraped_flights)
-    
+    if not SKIP_SAVE_TO_DB:
+        db.add_pandas_df_to_db(scraped_flights)
+
     # handle backup here
     db.dump_database_to_sql_file()
diff --git a/src/flight_analysis/database.py b/src/flight_analysis/database.py
index 52eb0c5..c38c8af 100644
--- a/src/flight_analysis/database.py
+++ b/src/flight_analysis/database.py
@@ -183,10 +183,14 @@ def dump_database_to_sql_file(self):
         Returns: the path to the dumped .tar file.
         """
         BACKUPS_FOLDER_NAME = "db_backups"
-        
-        # specify the backup file and folder name
-        date_str = datetime.now().strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S")
+                
+        # create the backup folder if it doesn't exist
         backup_folder = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), BACKUPS_FOLDER_NAME)
+        if not os.path.exists(backup_folder):
+            os.makedirs(backup_folder)
+        
+        # specify backup filename
+        date_str = datetime.now().strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M")
         backup_file = os.path.join(backup_folder, f"{date_str}_{self.db_name}.tar")
 
         # run the pg_dump command to create a backup