diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 32c216e3..224c23d8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ When officially released 8.0 will support (mostly) seamless upgrades from the 7.
 - [PR #1433](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/pull/1433): Support an optional better form for the `nodes/` output. Fixes [issue #1415](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/issues/1415)
 - [PR #1447](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/pull/1447): Remove-on-shutdown now supports authentication.
 - [PR #1451](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/pull/1451): Support optional `VACUUM` of SQLite database file before upload to Cloud storage.
+- [PR #1452](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/pull/1452): Support optional `VACUUM` of requested backup SQLite file.
   
 ### Implementation changes and bug fixes
 - [PR #1368](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/pull/1374): Switch to always-on expvar and pprof.
diff --git a/command/command.pb.go b/command/command.pb.go
index 4ed92f56..106f91a7 100644
--- a/command/command.pb.go
+++ b/command/command.pb.go
@@ -919,6 +919,7 @@ type BackupRequest struct {
 
 	Format BackupRequest_Format `protobuf:"varint,1,opt,name=format,proto3,enum=command.BackupRequest_Format" json:"format,omitempty"`
 	Leader bool                 `protobuf:"varint,2,opt,name=Leader,proto3" json:"Leader,omitempty"`
+	Vacuum bool                 `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=Vacuum,proto3" json:"Vacuum,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *BackupRequest) Reset() {
@@ -967,6 +968,13 @@ func (x *BackupRequest) GetLeader() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+func (x *BackupRequest) GetVacuum() bool {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Vacuum
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 type LoadRequest struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
@@ -1447,66 +1455,67 @@ var file_command_command_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
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+	0x55, 0x4e, 0x4b, 0x4e, 0x4f, 0x57, 0x4e, 0x10, 0x00, 0x12, 0x16, 0x0a, 0x12, 0x43, 0x4f, 0x4d,
+	0x4d, 0x41, 0x4e, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x54, 0x59, 0x50, 0x45, 0x5f, 0x51, 0x55, 0x45, 0x52, 0x59, 0x10,
+	0x01, 0x12, 0x18, 0x0a, 0x14, 0x43, 0x4f, 0x4d, 0x4d, 0x41, 0x4e, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x54, 0x59, 0x50,
+	0x45, 0x5f, 0x45, 0x58, 0x45, 0x43, 0x55, 0x54, 0x45, 0x10, 0x02, 0x12, 0x15, 0x0a, 0x11, 0x43,
+	0x4f, 0x4d, 0x4d, 0x41, 0x4e, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x54, 0x59, 0x50, 0x45, 0x5f, 0x4e, 0x4f, 0x4f, 0x50,
+	0x10, 0x03, 0x12, 0x15, 0x0a, 0x11, 0x43, 0x4f, 0x4d, 0x4d, 0x41, 0x4e, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x54, 0x59,
+	0x50, 0x45, 0x5f, 0x4c, 0x4f, 0x41, 0x44, 0x10, 0x04, 0x12, 0x15, 0x0a, 0x11, 0x43, 0x4f, 0x4d,
+	0x4d, 0x41, 0x4e, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x54, 0x59, 0x50, 0x45, 0x5f, 0x4a, 0x4f, 0x49, 0x4e, 0x10, 0x05,
+	0x12, 0x1e, 0x0a, 0x1a, 0x43, 0x4f, 0x4d, 0x4d, 0x41, 0x4e, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x54, 0x59, 0x50, 0x45,
+	0x5f, 0x45, 0x58, 0x45, 0x43, 0x55, 0x54, 0x45, 0x5f, 0x51, 0x55, 0x45, 0x52, 0x59, 0x10, 0x06,
+	0x12, 0x1b, 0x0a, 0x17, 0x43, 0x4f, 0x4d, 0x4d, 0x41, 0x4e, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x54, 0x59, 0x50, 0x45,
+	0x5f, 0x4c, 0x4f, 0x41, 0x44, 0x5f, 0x43, 0x48, 0x55, 0x4e, 0x4b, 0x10, 0x07, 0x42, 0x22, 0x5a,
+	0x20, 0x67, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2f, 0x72, 0x71, 0x6c, 0x69,
+	0x74, 0x65, 0x2f, 0x72, 0x71, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x74, 0x65, 0x2f, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x6d, 0x61, 0x6e,
+	0x64, 0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
 }
 
 var (
diff --git a/command/command.proto b/command/command.proto
index 375fad9b..ff6d2a72 100644
--- a/command/command.proto
+++ b/command/command.proto
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ message BackupRequest {
 	}
 	Format format = 1;
 	bool Leader = 2;
+	bool Vacuum = 3;
 }
 
 message LoadRequest {
diff --git a/http/service.go b/http/service.go
index 198ddca8..b8b11d6b 100644
--- a/http/service.go
+++ b/http/service.go
@@ -620,6 +620,12 @@ func (s *Service) handleBackup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	vacuum, err := isVacuum(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+
 	timeout, err := timeoutParam(r, defaultTimeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
@@ -629,6 +635,7 @@ func (s *Service) handleBackup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	br := &command.BackupRequest{
 		Format: format,
 		Leader: !noLeader,
+		Vacuum: vacuum,
 	}
 
 	err = s.store.Backup(br, w)
@@ -676,6 +683,9 @@ func (s *Service) handleBackup(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			}
 			stats.Add(numRemoteBackups, 1)
 			return
+		} else if err == store.ErrInvalidVacuum {
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
+			return
 		}
 		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
@@ -1828,6 +1838,11 @@ func isPretty(req *http.Request) (bool, error) {
 	return queryParam(req, "pretty")
 }
 
+// isVacuum returns whether the HTTP request is requesting a vacuum.
+func isVacuum(req *http.Request) (bool, error) {
+	return queryParam(req, "vacuum")
+}
+
 // isRedirect returns whether the HTTP request is requesting a explicit
 // redirect to the leader, if necessary.
 func isRedirect(req *http.Request) (bool, error) {
diff --git a/http/service_test.go b/http/service_test.go
index 71ce5fdb..e770a20e 100644
--- a/http/service_test.go
+++ b/http/service_test.go
@@ -494,6 +494,41 @@ func Test_BackupOK(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func Test_BackupVacuumOK(t *testing.T) {
+	m := &MockStore{}
+	c := &mockClusterService{}
+	s := New("127.0.0.1:0", m, c, nil)
+	if err := s.Start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to start service")
+	}
+	defer s.Close()
+
+	m.backupFn = func(br *command.BackupRequest, dst io.Writer) error {
+		if !br.Vacuum {
+			t.Fatal("expected vacuum to be true")
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	client := &http.Client{}
+	host := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s", s.Addr().String())
+
+	resp, err := client.Get(host + "/db/backup?vacuum")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to make backup request")
+	}
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to get expected StatusOK for backup, got %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	resp, err = client.Get(host + "/db/backup?vacuum&fmt=binary")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to make backup request")
+	}
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to get expected StatusOK for backup, got %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+}
+
 func Test_BackupFlagsNoLeaderRedirect(t *testing.T) {
 	m := &MockStore{}
 	c := &mockClusterService{
@@ -605,6 +640,37 @@ func Test_BackupFlagsNoLeaderOK(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func Test_BackupFlagsInvalid(t *testing.T) {
+	m := &MockStore{}
+	c := &mockClusterService{
+		apiAddr: "http://1.2.3.4:999",
+	}
+
+	s := New("127.0.0.1:0", m, c, nil)
+
+	if err := s.Start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to start service")
+	}
+	defer s.Close()
+
+	m.backupFn = func(br *command.BackupRequest, dst io.Writer) error {
+		if br.Vacuum && br.Format == command.BackupRequest_BACKUP_REQUEST_FORMAT_SQL {
+			return store.ErrInvalidVacuum
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	client := &http.Client{}
+	host := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s", s.Addr().String())
+	resp, err := client.Get(host + "/db/backup?fmt=sql&vacuum")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to make backup request")
+	}
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to get expected StatusBadRequest for backup, got %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+}
+
 func Test_LoadOK(t *testing.T) {
 	m := &MockStore{}
 	c := &mockClusterService{}
diff --git a/store/store.go b/store/store.go
index b983564b..c3b35a6e 100644
--- a/store/store.go
+++ b/store/store.go
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ var (
 	// ErrInvalidBackupFormat is returned when the requested backup format
 	// is not valid.
 	ErrInvalidBackupFormat = errors.New("invalid backup format")
+
+	// ErrInvalidVacuumFormat is returned when the requested backup format is not
+	// compatible with vacuum.
+	ErrInvalidVacuum = errors.New("invalid vacuum")
 )
 
 const (
@@ -1133,6 +1137,10 @@ func (s *Store) Backup(br *command.BackupRequest, dst io.Writer) (retErr error)
 		return ErrNotOpen
 	}
 
+	if br.Vacuum && br.Format != command.BackupRequest_BACKUP_REQUEST_FORMAT_BINARY {
+		return ErrInvalidBackupFormat
+	}
+
 	startT := time.Now()
 	defer func() {
 		if retErr == nil {
@@ -1155,7 +1163,7 @@ func (s *Store) Backup(br *command.BackupRequest, dst io.Writer) (retErr error)
 		}
 		defer os.Remove(f.Name())
 
-		if err := s.db.Backup(f.Name(), false); err != nil {
+		if err := s.db.Backup(f.Name(), br.Vacuum); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}