diff --git a/rsync_tmbackup.sh b/rsync_tmbackup.sh
index 883415c..d260115 100644
--- a/rsync_tmbackup.sh
+++ b/rsync_tmbackup.sh
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@ while [ "1" ]; do
 	# Purge certain old backups before beginning new backup.
 	# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    # Default value for $prev ensures that the most recent backup is never deleted.
+	prev="0000-00-00-000000"
 	for fname in $(fn_find_backups | sort -r); do
 		date=$(basename "$fname")
 		stamp=$(fn_parse_date $date)