diff --git a/.local/bin/dotfiles-install.sh b/.local/bin/dotfiles-install.sh
index 485522e..0476af9 100755
--- a/.local/bin/dotfiles-install.sh
+++ b/.local/bin/dotfiles-install.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ if dot checkout > /dev/null 2>&1; then
 else
    echo "Backing up pre-existing dotfiles."
    # get the list of files that need to be backed up
-   DOTFILES_BACKUP_LIST=($(dot checkout 2>&1 | grep -Po "\t.*$" | cut -c 1 --complement))
+   DOTFILES_BACKUP_LIST=($(dot checkout 2>&1 | grep -Po "(?<=\t)(.*)$"))
    # create directories for everything that needs one 
    mkdir -p "$DOTFILES_BACKUP_DIR" $(printf '%s\n' "${DOTFILES_BACKUP_LIST[@]}" | grep -Po '.*/' | sed "s#.*#$DOTFILES_BACKUP_DIR/&#g")
    # backup the files to avoid them being overwritten