diff --git a/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/tasks/main.yaml b/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/tasks/main.yaml
index b8418ab178..4ccc7f867b 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@
     name: '{{ item }}'
   with_inventory_hostnames: borg-backup-server
 
+- name: Set cron flag to enable error reports
+  cron:
+    name: BORG_UNDER_CRON
+    env: yes
+    job: '1'
+
 - name: Install backup cron job
   cron:
     name: "Run borg backup to {{ item }}"
diff --git a/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/templates/borg-backup.j2 b/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/templates/borg-backup.j2
index d645575135..f5a24df369 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/templates/borg-backup.j2
+++ b/playbooks/roles/borg-backup/templates/borg-backup.j2
@@ -60,7 +60,12 @@ if [ ${backup_exit} -eq 0 ]; then
     info "Backup finished successfully"
 else
     info "Backup finished with errors"
+    if [ ${BORG_UNDER_CRON:-0} -eq 1 ]; then
+        echo "Backups failed on host $(hostname) at $(date)." | \
+            mail -s "ACTION REQUIRED: Backup failed on $(hostname)" infra-root@openstack.org
+    fi
 fi
 
+
 exit ${backup_exit}