diff --git a/plinth/backup.py b/plinth/backup.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7930062e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plinth/backup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#
+# This file is part of FreedomBox.
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+# published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+# License, or (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+"""
+Utility methods for providing backup information.
+"""
+
+
+def validate(backup):
+    """Validate the backup' information schema."""
+    assert isinstance(backup, dict)
+
+    assert 'config' in backup
+    assert isinstance(backup['config'], dict)
+    _validate_directories_and_files(backup['config'])
+
+    assert 'data' in backup
+    assert isinstance(backup['data'], dict)
+    _validate_directories_and_files(backup['data'])
+
+    assert 'secrets' in backup
+    assert isinstance(backup['secrets'], dict)
+    _validate_directories_and_files(backup['secrets'])
+
+    assert 'services' in backup
+    assert isinstance(backup['services'], list)
+
+    return backup
+
+
+def _validate_directories_and_files(df):
+    """Validate directories and files structure."""
+    assert 'directories' in df
+    assert isinstance(df['directories'], list)
+    assert 'files' in df
+    assert isinstance(df['files'], list)
diff --git a/plinth/modules/dynamicdns/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/dynamicdns/manifest.py
index a3c6e7078..c09a9e684 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/dynamicdns/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/dynamicdns/manifest.py
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-backup = {
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
+
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': ['/etc/ez-ipupdate/'],
         'files': [],
@@ -29,4 +31,4 @@ backup = {
         'files': [],
     },
     'services': []
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/ejabberd/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/ejabberd/manifest.py
index b36b19991..d460ffb0d 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/ejabberd/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/ejabberd/manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import store_url, validate
 from plinth.modules.jsxc import manifest as jsxc_manifest
 
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ _clients.extend(jsxc_manifest.clients)
 
 clients = _clients
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': [],
         'files': ['/etc/ejabberd/ejabberd.yml'],
@@ -135,4 +136,4 @@ backup = {
         'files': ['/etc/ejabberd/ejabberd.pem'],
     },
     'services': ['ejabberd']
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/ikiwiki/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/ikiwiki/manifest.py
index 553f87314..2a95b712d 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/ikiwiki/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/ikiwiki/manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import validate
 
 clients = validate([{
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ clients = validate([{
     }]
 }])
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': [],
         'files': [],
@@ -41,4 +42,4 @@ backup = {
         'files': [],
     },
     'services': []
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/infinoted/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/infinoted/manifest.py
index 085307c64..74b73807d 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/infinoted/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/infinoted/manifest.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from plinth import cfg
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import validate
 from plinth.utils import format_lazy
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ clients = validate([{
     }]
 }])
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': [],
         'files': [],
@@ -63,4 +64,4 @@ backup = {
         ],
     },
     'services': ['infinoted']
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/matrixsynapse/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/matrixsynapse/manifest.py
index f6cd58e65..f29ae4713 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/matrixsynapse/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/matrixsynapse/manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import store_url, validate
 
 _android_package_id = 'im.vector.alpha'
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ clients = validate([{
     }]
 }])
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': ['/etc/matrix-synapse/conf.d/'],
         'files': [
@@ -78,4 +79,4 @@ backup = {
         ],
     },
     'services': ['matrix-synapse']
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/mediawiki/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/mediawiki/manifest.py
index 0f17408d1..cd0d27008 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/mediawiki/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/mediawiki/manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import validate
 
 clients = validate([{
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ clients = validate([{
     }]
 }])
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': [],
         'files': [],
@@ -41,4 +42,4 @@ backup = {
         'files': [],
     },
     'services': []
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/minetest/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/minetest/manifest.py
index 9591028de..0f44d528d 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/minetest/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/minetest/manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import store_url, validate
 
 clients = validate([{
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ clients = validate([{
     }]
 }])
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': [],
         'files': ['/etc/minetest/minetest.conf'],
@@ -65,4 +66,4 @@ backup = {
         'files': [],
     },
     'services': ['minetest-server']
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/radicale/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/radicale/manifest.py
index afffcabc6..a4ca0a5c6 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/radicale/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/radicale/manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import store_url, validate
 
 clients = validate([{
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ clients = validate([{
     }]
 }])
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': [],
         'files': [],
@@ -100,4 +101,4 @@ backup = {
         'files': [],
     },
     'services': ['radicale']
-}
+})
diff --git a/plinth/modules/repro/manifest.py b/plinth/modules/repro/manifest.py
index 4410390a2..9171fd376 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/repro/manifest.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/repro/manifest.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from plinth.backup import validate as validate_backup
 from plinth.clients import store_url, validate
 
 _jitsi_package_id = 'org.jitsi.meet'
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ clients = validate([{
     }]
 }])
 
-backup = {
+backup = validate_backup({
     'config': {
         'directories': [],
         'files': ['/etc/repro/repro.config', '/etc/repro/users.txt'],
@@ -88,4 +89,4 @@ backup = {
         'files': ['/etc/repro/dh2048.pem'],
     },
     'services': ['repro']
-}
+})