diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index f9b8f0b..ae8e23f 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ def cmd_install(o):
                      base=o.dotpath, workdir=o.workdir,
                      diff=o.install_diff, debug=o.debug,
                      totemp=tmpdir,
-                     showdiff=o.install_showdiff)
+                     showdiff=o.install_showdiff,
+                     backup_suffix=o.install_backup_suffix)
     installed = []
     for dotfile in dotfiles:
         preactions = []
@@ -116,7 +117,8 @@ def cmd_compare(o, tmp):
                     debug=o.debug)
     inst = Installer(create=o.create, backup=o.backup,
                      dry=o.dry, base=o.dotpath,
-                     workdir=o.workdir, debug=o.debug)
+                     workdir=o.workdir, debug=o.debug,
+                     backup_suffix=o.install_backup_suffix)
     comp = Comparator(diffopts=o.compare_dopts, debug=o.debug)
 
     for dotfile in selected:
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index 0e44308..6cf7074 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -17,11 +17,10 @@ import dotdrop.utils as utils
 
 class Installer:
 
-    BACKUP_SUFFIX = '.dotdropbak'
-
     def __init__(self, base='.', create=True, backup=True,
                  dry=False, safe=False, workdir='~/.config/dotdrop',
-                 debug=False, diff=True, totemp=None, showdiff=False):
+                 debug=False, diff=True, totemp=None, showdiff=False,
+                 backup_suffix='.dotdropbak'):
         """constructor
         @base: directory path where to search for templates
         @create: create directory hierarchy if missing when installing
@@ -33,6 +32,7 @@ class Installer:
         @diff: diff when installing if True
         @totemp: deploy to this path instead of dotfile dst if not None
         @showdiff: show the diff before overwriting (or asking for)
+        @backup_suffix: suffix for dotfile backup file
         """
         self.create = create
         self.backup = backup
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class Installer:
         self.diff = diff
         self.totemp = totemp
         self.showdiff = showdiff
+        self.backup_suffix = backup_suffix
         self.comparing = False
         self.action_executed = False
         self.log = Logger()
@@ -367,7 +368,7 @@ class Installer:
         """backup file pointed by path"""
         if self.dry:
             return
-        dst = path.rstrip(os.sep) + self.BACKUP_SUFFIX
+        dst = path.rstrip(os.sep) + self.backup_suffix
         self.log.log('backup {} to {}'.format(path, dst))
         os.rename(path, dst)
 
diff --git a/dotdrop/options.py b/dotdrop/options.py
index 8007c1c..d27fae5 100644
--- a/dotdrop/options.py
+++ b/dotdrop/options.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from dotdrop.config import Cfg
 ENV_PROFILE = 'DOTDROP_PROFILE'
 ENV_CONFIG = 'DOTDROP_CONFIG'
 ENV_NOBANNER = 'DOTDROP_NOBANNER'
+BACKUP_SUFFIX = '.dotdropbak'
 
 PROFILE = socket.gethostname()
 if ENV_PROFILE in os.environ:
@@ -157,16 +158,19 @@ class Options(AttrMonitor):
         self.install_keys = self.args['<key>']
         self.install_diff = not self.args['--nodiff']
         self.install_showdiff = self.showdiff or self.args['--showdiff']
+        self.install_backup_suffix = BACKUP_SUFFIX
         # "compare" specifics
         self.compare_dopts = self.args['--dopts']
         self.compare_focus = self.args['--file']
         self.compare_ignore = self.args['--ignore']
+        self.compare_ignore.append('*{}'.format(self.install_backup_suffix))
         # "import" specifics
         self.import_path = self.args['<path>']
         # "update" specifics
         self.update_path = self.args['<path>']
         self.update_iskey = self.args['--key']
         self.update_ignore = self.args['--ignore']
+        self.update_ignore.append('*{}'.format(self.install_backup_suffix))
         self.update_showpatch = self.args['--show-patch']
         # "detail" specifics
         self.detail_keys = self.args['<key>']
diff --git a/tests/test_install.py b/tests/test_install.py
index 158e413..e040b28 100644
--- a/tests/test_install.py
+++ b/tests/test_install.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from dotdrop.dotfile import Dotfile
 from dotdrop.installer import Installer
 from dotdrop.action import Action
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_install
+from dotdrop.options import BACKUP_SUFFIX
 from dotdrop.linktypes import LinkTypes
 from dotdrop.utils import header
 
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ exec bspwm
         self.assertTrue(os.path.realpath(dst7) == os.path.realpath(dir2))
 
         # make sure backup is there
-        b = dst4 + Installer.BACKUP_SUFFIX
+        b = dst4 + BACKUP_SUFFIX
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(b))
 
         self.assertTrue(filecmp.cmp(f1, dst1, shallow=True))