     dbg("age_m=#{opts.age_m}; min_age_m=#{opts.min_age_m}; time_since_last_backup_m=#{opts.time_since_last_backup_m}")
     async.series([
         (cb) ->
-            if opts.time_since_last_backup_m?
+            if opts.time_since_last_backup_m? or opts.local?
                 opts.database.recent_projects
                     age_m     : opts.age_m
                     min_age_m : opts.min_age_m

                        projects = v
                        cb(err)
        (cb) ->
            dbg("making backup of #{projects.length} projects")
            save_BUP_many
                database : opts.database

        threads   : 1
        time_since_last_backup_m : undefined  # if given, only backup projects for which it has been at least this long since they were backed up
        local     : false      # if true, backs up *every* project on this host for which no backup exists in the /bups directory.
        limit     : undefined  # backup at most this many
        cb        : required
    if process.env.USER != 'root'
        opts.cb("must be root")
