diff --git a/helm/vitess/templates/_helpers.tpl b/helm/vitess/templates/_helpers.tpl
index 2eea5419e6d..4d2233c7e08 100644
--- a/helm/vitess/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/helm/vitess/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -105,21 +105,30 @@ export EXTRA_MY_CNF="$FLAVOR_MYCNF:/vtdataroot/tabletdata/report-host.cnf:/vt/co
 # backup flags - expects config.backup
 #############################
 {{- define "backup-flags" -}}
+{{- $backup := index . 0 -}}
+{{- $caller := index . 1 -}}
 
-{{ if .enabled }}
+{{ with $backup }}
+
+  {{ if .enabled }}
+    {{ if eq $caller "vttablet" }}
 -restore_from_backup
+    {{ end }}
+
 -backup_storage_implementation=$VT_BACKUP_SERVICE
 
-{{ if eq .backup_storage_implementation "gcs" }}
+    {{ if eq .backup_storage_implementation "gcs" }}
 -gcs_backup_storage_bucket=$VT_GCS_BACKUP_STORAGE_BUCKET
 -gcs_backup_storage_root=$VT_GCS_BACKUP_STORAGE_ROOT
 
-{{ else if eq .backup_storage_implementation "s3" }}
+    {{ else if eq .backup_storage_implementation "s3" }}
 -s3_backup_aws_region=$VT_S3_BACKUP_AWS_REGION
 -s3_backup_storage_bucket=$VT_S3_BACKUP_STORAGE_BUCKET
 -s3_backup_storage_root=$VT_S3_BACKUP_STORAGE_ROOT
 -s3_backup_server_side_encryption=$VT_S3_BACKUP_SERVER_SIDE_ENCRYPTION
-{{ end }}
+    {{ end }}
+
+  {{ end }}
 
 {{ end }}
 
diff --git a/helm/vitess/templates/_vtctld.tpl b/helm/vitess/templates/_vtctld.tpl
index e7f69436052..e75ea0dd48a 100644
--- a/helm/vitess/templates/_vtctld.tpl
+++ b/helm/vitess/templates/_vtctld.tpl
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ spec:
                 -topo_implementation="etcd2"
                 -topo_global_server_address="etcd-global-client.{{ $namespace }}:2379"
                 -topo_global_root=/vitess/global
-{{ include "backup-flags" . | indent 16 }}
+{{ include "backup-flags" (tuple $config.backup "vtctld") | indent 16 }}
               END_OF_COMMAND
               )
 
diff --git a/helm/vitess/templates/_vttablet.tpl b/helm/vitess/templates/_vttablet.tpl
index 9617ef0b6a5..0f8de94150a 100644
--- a/helm/vitess/templates/_vttablet.tpl
+++ b/helm/vitess/templates/_vttablet.tpl
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ spec:
         -orc_api_url "http://orchestrator.{{ $namespace }}/api"
         -orc_discover_interval "5m"
 {{ end }}
-{{ include "backup-flags" $config.backup | indent 8 }}
+{{ include "backup-flags" (tuple $config.backup "vttablet") | indent 8 }}
       END_OF_COMMAND
       )
 {{- end -}}