diff --git a/actions/backups b/actions/backups
index 7c3a9ac5b..cb539e7c0 100755
--- a/actions/backups
+++ b/actions/backups
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import tarfile
 
+from plinth.errors import ActionError
 from plinth.modules.backups import MANIFESTS_FOLDER, REPOSITORY
 
 
@@ -174,10 +175,24 @@ def subcommand_get_archive_apps(arguments):
                 manifest_path)
         manifest = json.loads(manifest_data)
     if manifest:
-        for app in manifest:
+        for app in _get_apps_of_manifest(manifest):
             print(app['name'])
 
 
+def _get_apps_of_manifest(manifest):
+    """
+    Get apps of a manifest.
+    Supports both dict format as well as list format of plinth <=0.42
+    """
+    if type(manifest) is list:
+        apps = manifest
+    elif type(manifest) is dict and 'apps' in manifest:
+        apps = manifest['apps']
+    else:
+        raise ActionError('Unknown manifest format')
+    return apps
+
+
 def subcommand_get_exported_archive_apps(arguments):
     """Get list of apps included in an exported archive file."""
     manifest = None
@@ -191,7 +206,7 @@ def subcommand_get_exported_archive_apps(arguments):
                 break
 
     if manifest:
-        for app in manifest:
+        for app in _get_apps_of_manifest(manifest):
             print(app['name'])
 
 
diff --git a/plinth/modules/backups/__init__.py b/plinth/modules/backups/__init__.py
index d56a77954..5f5095bc2 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/backups/__init__.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/backups/__init__.py
@@ -84,11 +84,13 @@ def _backup_handler(packet):
 
     manifest_path = os.path.join(MANIFESTS_FOLDER,
                                  get_valid_filename(packet.label) + '.json')
-    manifests = [{
-        'name': app.name,
-        'version': app.app.version,
-        'backup': app.manifest
-    } for app in packet.apps]
+    manifests = {
+        'apps': [{
+            'name': app.name,
+            'version': app.app.version,
+            'backup': app.manifest
+        } for app in packet.apps]
+    }
     with open(manifest_path, 'w') as manifest_file:
         json.dump(manifests, manifest_file)