diff --git a/deployment/scripts/cluster.backup.sh b/deployment/scripts/cluster.backup.sh
index d5d5e1b59..bfa246ca4 100755
--- a/deployment/scripts/cluster.backup.sh
+++ b/deployment/scripts/cluster.backup.sh
@@ -8,9 +8,12 @@ date
 SCRIPT_PATH=$(realpath $0)
 SCRIPT_DIR=$(dirname $SCRIPT_PATH)
 
+# debugging
+printf "CONFIGURATION=%s\n" $CONFIGURATION
+
 # check CONFIGURATION
-if [ -z ${CONFIGURATION} ]; then
-  echo "You must provide a `CONFIGURATION` via environment variable"
+if [[ -z ${CONFIGURATION} ]]; then
+  echo "!!! You must provide a CONFIGURATION via environment variable !!!"
   exit 1
 fi
 
diff --git a/deployment/scripts/clusters.backup-multiple-servers.sh b/deployment/scripts/clusters.backup-multiple-servers.sh
index 164afc774..2bde67e51 100755
--- a/deployment/scripts/clusters.backup-multiple-servers.sh
+++ b/deployment/scripts/clusters.backup-multiple-servers.sh
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ date
 SCRIPT_PATH=$(realpath $0)
 SCRIPT_DIR=$(dirname $SCRIPT_PATH)
 
+# debugging
 echo "SCRIPT_PATH=$SCRIPT_PATH"
 echo "SCRIPT_DIR=$SCRIPT_DIR"
 
@@ -24,9 +25,13 @@ set +a
 
 # check BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS
 if [[ -z ${BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS} ]]; then
-  echo "You must provide a BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS via environment variable"
+  #%! echo "You must provide a BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS via environment variable"
+  printf "!!! You must provide a BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS via environment variable !!!\n"
   exit 1
 else
+  # debugging
+  printf "BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS=%s\n" $BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS
+
   # convert configurations to array
   IFS=' ' read -a CONFIGURATIONS_ARRAY <<< "$BACKUP_CONFIGURATIONS"
 
@@ -40,7 +45,8 @@ fi
 
 # check BACKUP_SAVED_BACKUPS_NUMBER
 if [[ -z ${BACKUP_SAVED_BACKUPS_NUMBER} ]]; then
-  echo "You must provide a BACKUP_SAVED_BACKUPS_NUMBER via environment variable"
+  #%! echo "You must provide a BACKUP_SAVED_BACKUPS_NUMBER via environment variable"
+  printf "!!! You must provide a BACKUP_SAVED_BACKUPS_NUMBER via environment variable !!!\n"
   exit 1
 else
   # deleting backups?