diff --git a/hass_backup.sh b/hass_backup.sh
index f06b120..80a9d41 100644
--- a/hass_backup.sh
+++ b/hass_backup.sh
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ fi
 
 # Check if the destination directories exist and create them if they don't.
 # This prevents rsync from failing on the first run.
-mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DESTINATION"
-mkdir -p "$PHOTOS_DESTINATION"
+# mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DESTINATION"
+# mkdir -p "$PHOTOS_DESTINATION"
 
 # ==============================================================================
 # Home Assistant backup
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ else
         curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $NTFY_TOKEN" -d "Error: No files found in Home Assistant backup directory." "$NTFY_SERVER/$NTFY_TOPIC" > /dev/null 2>&1
     else
         FULL_BACKUP_PATH="$HOMEASSISTANT_BACKUP_SOURCE_DIR/$LATEST_BACKUP_FILE"
-        rsync -av --progress "$FULL_BACKUP_PATH" "$HOMEASSISTANT_DESTINATION"
+        rsync -av --no-owner --no-group --progress "$FULL_BACKUP_PATH" "$HOMEASSISTANT_DESTINATION"
         if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
             echo "Success: Most recent Home Assistant backup '$LATEST_BACKUP_FILE' copied to '$HOMEASSISTANT_DESTINATION'."
             curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $NTFY_TOKEN" -d "Success: Home Assistant backup copied to $HOMEASSISTANT_DESTINATION" "$NTFY_SERVER/$NTFY_TOPIC" > /dev/null 2>&1