diff --git a/openwisp-config/files/sbin/openwisp-update-config.lua b/openwisp-config/files/sbin/openwisp-update-config.lua
index e7ba722..d5deaa4 100755
--- a/openwisp-config/files/sbin/openwisp-update-config.lua
+++ b/openwisp-config/files/sbin/openwisp-update-config.lua
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ if lfs.attributes(remote_config_dir, 'mode') == 'directory' then
         -- ensure we are acting on a file
         if lfs.attributes(remote_path, 'mode') == 'file' then
             -- if there's no backup of the file yet, create one
-            if not utils.file_exists(stored_path) then
+            if (not utils.file_exists(stored_path) and not utils.file_exists(remote_path)) then
                 os.execute('cp '..standard_path..' '..stored_path)
             end
             -- MERGE mode
diff --git a/openwisp-config/tests/test_update_config.lua b/openwisp-config/tests/test_update_config.lua
index 6265f8f..48e7051 100644
--- a/openwisp-config/tests/test_update_config.lua
+++ b/openwisp-config/tests/test_update_config.lua
@@ -123,16 +123,11 @@ function TestUpdateConfig.test_update()
     luaunit.assertNotNil(restoreFile)
     luaunit.assertEquals(restoreFile:read('*all'), 'restore-me\n')
     luaunit.assertNil(io.open(openwisp_dir..'/stored/etc/restore-me'))
-    -- ensure network configuration file is backed up
-    local storedNetworkFile = io.open(stored_dir .. '/etc/config/network')
-    luaunit.assertNotNil(storedNetworkFile)
-    local initialNetworkFile = io.open('update/network')
-    luaunit.assertEquals(storedNetworkFile:read('*all'), initialNetworkFile:read('*all'))
-    -- ensure system configuration file is backed up
+    -- ensure network  and configuration file is not backed up as it is coming from remote
+    local storedNetworkFile = io.open(openwisp_dir .. '/etc/config/network')
+    luaunit.assertNil(storedNetworkFile)
     local storedSystemFile = io.open(stored_dir .. '/etc/config/system')
-    luaunit.assertNotNil(storedSystemFile)
-    local initialSystemFile = io.open('update/system')
-    luaunit.assertEquals(storedSystemFile:read('*all'), initialSystemFile:read('*all'))
+    luaunit.assertNil(storedSystemFile)
 end
 
 function TestUpdateConfig.test_update_conf_arg()