diff --git a/lib/fs/fat32.c b/lib/fs/fat32.c
index f906436..fc5f78b 100644
--- a/lib/fs/fat32.c
+++ b/lib/fs/fat32.c
@@ -1353,7 +1353,7 @@ static errval_t _fat32_fcreate(struct fat32 *fat32, const char *path, struct fat
     // store the directory in the space in the parent directory we found
     assert(free_cluster_number > 1);
     struct fat32_directory_entry directory_entry = {
-        .attributes = 0,
+        .attributes = FAT32_ATTR_ARCHIVE, // mark the file for backup utilities
         .first_cluster_number_low_word = fat32_cluster_number_low_word(free_cluster_number),
         .first_cluster_number_high_word = fat32_cluster_number_high_word(free_cluster_number),
         .file_size = 0,
@@ -1593,6 +1593,10 @@ static errval_t _fat32_fwrite(struct fat32 *fat32, struct fat32_handle *file_han
     fat32_get_time_information(&write_date, &write_time);
     directory_entry.write_date = write_date;
     directory_entry.write_time = write_time;
+
+    // set the archive flag
+    directory_entry.attributes |= FAT32_ATTR_ARCHIVE;
+
     errval_t dir_update_err = fat32_write_directory_entry(
         fat32,
         file_handle->directory_entry_ref,