diff --git a/rattail_fabric2/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako b/rattail_fabric2/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako
index 62a0f11..2fc81b9 100755
--- a/rattail_fabric2/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako
+++ b/rattail_fabric2/deploy/backup/backup-everything.mako
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ else
 fi
 
 RATTAIL="/srv/envs/${envname}/bin/rattail --config=$CONFIG $PROGRESS $VERBOSE"
+# nb. avoid rich-formatted traceback here since it's so "noisy"
+export _TYPER_STANDARD_TRACEBACK=1
 
 
 # sanity check