diff --git a/cinder/cmd/backup.py b/cinder/cmd/backup.py
index 1692d93f2db..a3381364fb7 100644
--- a/cinder/cmd/backup.py
+++ b/cinder/cmd/backup.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def _launch_backup_process(launcher, num_process, _semaphore):
         server = service.Service.create(binary='cinder-backup',
                                         coordination=True,
                                         service_name='backup',
-                                        process_number=num_process,
+                                        process_number=num_process + 1,
                                         semaphore=_semaphore)
     except Exception:
         LOG.exception('Backup service %s failed to start.', CONF.host)
@@ -113,10 +113,20 @@ def main():
     semaphore = utils.semaphore_factory(CONF.backup_max_operations,
                                         CONF.backup_workers)
 
-    LOG.info('Backup running with %s processes.', CONF.backup_workers)
-    launcher = service.get_launcher()
+    if CONF.backup_workers > 1:
+        LOG.info('Backup running with %s processes.', CONF.backup_workers)
+        launcher = service.get_launcher()
 
-    for i in range(1, CONF.backup_workers + 1):
-        _launch_backup_process(launcher, i, semaphore)
+        for i in range(CONF.backup_workers):
+            _launch_backup_process(launcher, i, semaphore)
 
-    launcher.wait()
+        launcher.wait()
+    else:
+        LOG.info('Backup running in single process mode.')
+        server = service.Service.create(binary='cinder-backup',
+                                        coordination=True,
+                                        service_name='backup',
+                                        process_number=1,
+                                        semaphore=semaphore)
+        service.serve(server)
+        service.wait()
diff --git a/cinder/tests/unit/test_cmd.py b/cinder/tests/unit/test_cmd.py
index 80c0e64045a..0813666f824 100644
--- a/cinder/tests/unit/test_cmd.py
+++ b/cinder/tests/unit/test_cmd.py
@@ -97,6 +97,30 @@ class TestCinderBackupCmd(test.TestCase):
         super(TestCinderBackupCmd, self).setUp()
         sys.argv = ['cinder-backup']
 
+    @mock.patch('cinder.utils.semaphore_factory')
+    @mock.patch('cinder.cmd.backup._launch_backup_process')
+    @mock.patch('cinder.service.wait')
+    @mock.patch('cinder.service.serve')
+    @mock.patch('cinder.service.Service.create')
+    @mock.patch('cinder.utils.monkey_patch')
+    @mock.patch('oslo_log.log.setup')
+    def test_main(self, log_setup, monkey_patch, service_create, service_serve,
+                  service_wait, launch_mock, mock_semaphore):
+        server = service_create.return_value
+
+        cinder_backup.main()
+
+        self.assertEqual('cinder', CONF.project)
+        self.assertEqual(CONF.version, version.version_string())
+        log_setup.assert_called_once_with(CONF, "cinder")
+        monkey_patch.assert_called_once_with()
+        service_create.assert_called_once_with(
+            binary='cinder-backup', coordination=True, service_name='backup',
+            process_number=1, semaphore=mock_semaphore.return_value)
+        service_serve.assert_called_once_with(server)
+        service_wait.assert_called_once_with()
+        launch_mock.assert_not_called()
+
     @mock.patch('cinder.utils.Semaphore')
     @mock.patch('cinder.service.get_launcher')
     @mock.patch('cinder.service.Service.create')