diff --git a/files/hedgedoc-retention-cron.sh b/files/hedgedoc-retention-cron.sh
index 108dab6e26f5ce02f2febcb0932382d9eca9241e..7c070926a46efa2c9efdc558eb86af472eddd4c3 100644
--- a/files/hedgedoc-retention-cron.sh
+++ b/files/hedgedoc-retention-cron.sh
@@ -24,18 +24,23 @@ while read -r pad owner; do
     continue
   fi
 
-  logger -t hedgedoc-util "Processing pad $pad"; 
+  logger -t hedgedoc-util "Processing pad $pad"
 
-  if [ "$BACKUP_ENABLED" = true ]; then
-    hedgedoc-util pad get-content $pad > $BACKUP_PATH/$(date +"%Y%m%d")_$pad.md && logger -t hedgedoc-util "backup successfull"
-  fi
+  content=$(hedgedoc-util pad get-content $pad)
+
+  if [ -z $(sed 's/[[:blank:]]//g' <<< "$content") ]; then
+    logger -t hedgedoc-util "pad is empty"
+  else
+    if [ "$BACKUP_ENABLED" = true ]; then
+       printf "%s" "$content" > $BACKUP_PATH/$(date +"%Y%m%d")_$pad.md && logger -t hedgedoc-util "backup successfull"
+    fi
 
-  if [ "$MAIL_ENABLED" = true ]; then
-    hedgedoc-util pad mail --convert dokuwiki --convert markdown --template $MAIL_TEMPLATE $pad && logger -t hedgedoc-util "mailed successfull"
+    if [ "$MAIL_ENABLED" = true ]; then
+      hedgedoc-util pad mail --convert dokuwiki --convert markdown --template $MAIL_TEMPLATE $pad && logger -t hedgedoc-util "mailed successfull"
+    fi
   fi
 
-  hedgedoc-util pad delete $pad && \
-    logger -t hedgedoc-util "Pad $pad deleted"; 
+  hedgedoc-util pad delete $pad && logger -t hedgedoc-util "Pad $pad deleted"
 done < <(hedgedoc-util --output tsv-noheader pad list -c id -c ownerId --last-change-older $RETENTION_DAYS)
 
 if [ "$BACKUP_ENABLED" = true ]; then