diff --git a/csd3-side/scripts/lsst-backup.py b/csd3-side/scripts/lsst-backup.py
index c210aa7..c55fd2a 100644
--- a/csd3-side/scripts/lsst-backup.py
+++ b/csd3-side/scripts/lsst-backup.py
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ def error(self, message):
     if args.exclude:
         exclude = pd.Series(args.exclude)
     else:
-        exclude = pd.Series.empty()
+        exclude = pd.Series([])
     
     print(f'Config: {args}')