diff --git a/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/mod.rs b/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/mod.rs
index 83e021afd..e0baf9a3b 100644
--- a/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/mod.rs
+++ b/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/mod.rs
@@ -1341,32 +1341,49 @@ impl CommandApi {
         .await
     }
 
-    /// Starts to provide the backup for remote devices to retrieve.
+    /// Offers a backup for remote devices to retrieve.
     ///
     /// Can be cancelled by stopping the ongoing process.  Success or failure can be tracked
     /// via the `ImexProgress` event which should either reach `1000` for success or `0` for
     /// failure.
     ///
-    /// This **stops IO**.  After completion `start_io` must be called to restart IO.
+    /// This **stops IO** while it is running.
     ///
-    /// Returns the QR code as a rendered SVG image.
-    async fn provide_backup(&self, account_id: u32) -> Result<String> {
+    /// Returns once a remote device has retrieved the backup.
+    async fn provide_backup(&self, account_id: u32) -> Result<()> {
         let ctx = self.get_context(account_id).await?;
         ctx.stop_io().await;
-        let provider = imex::BackupProvider::prepare(&ctx).await?;
-        let qr = provider.qr();
-        let svg = match generate_backup_qr(&ctx, &qr).await {
-            Ok(svg) => svg,
+        let provider = match imex::BackupProvider::prepare(&ctx).await {
+            Ok(provider) => provider,
             Err(err) => {
-                ctx.stop_ongoing().await;
+                ctx.start_io().await;
                 return Err(err);
             }
         };
-        Ok(svg)
+        let res = provider.join().await;
+        ctx.start_io().await;
+        res
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the QR code for the running [`CommandApi::provide_backup`].
+    ///
+    /// This QR code can be used in [`CommandApi::get_backup`] on a second device to
+    /// retrieve the backup and setup this second device.
+    ///
+    /// Returns the QR code rendered as an SVG image.
+    async fn get_backup_qr_svg(&self, account_id: u32) -> Result<String> {
+        let ctx = self.get_context(account_id).await?;
+        let qr = ctx
+            .backup_export_qr()
+            .ok_or(anyhow!("no backup being exported"))?;
+        generate_backup_qr(&ctx, &qr).await
     }
 
     /// Gets a backup from a remote provider.
     ///
+    /// This retrieves the backup from a remote device over the network and imports it into
+    /// the current device.
+    ///
     /// Can be cancelled by stopping the ongoing process.
     async fn get_backup(&self, account_id: u32, qr_text: String) -> Result<()> {
         let ctx = self.get_context(account_id).await?;