diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 1eae8138..3cb90b05 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@
 # dotfiles directory
 dotfiledir="${HOME}/dotfiles"
 
+# Create the backup directory if it doesn't exist
+currentdate=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
+backupdir="${HOME}/dotfiles/backups/${currentdate}"
+
+mkdir -p "${backupdir}"
+echo "Backup dir created"
+
 # list of files/folders to symlink in ${homedir}
 files=(zshrc zprofile zprompt bashrc bash_profile bash_prompt aliases private)
 
@@ -19,6 +26,12 @@ cd "${dotfiledir}" || exit
 
 # create symlinks (will overwrite old dotfiles)
 for file in "${files[@]}"; do
+    if [ -e "${HOME}/.${file}" ]; then
+        # Backup existing files to the backup directory
+        echo "Backing up $file to ${backupdir}"
+        cp "${HOME}/.${file}" "${backupdir}/"
+    fi
+    
     echo "Creating symlink to $file in home directory."
     ln -sf "${dotfiledir}/.${file}" "${HOME}/.${file}"
 done