diff --git a/cmd/rqlited/main.go b/cmd/rqlited/main.go
index 328cb91e..a3f058a9 100644
--- a/cmd/rqlited/main.go
+++ b/cmd/rqlited/main.go
@@ -159,9 +159,7 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("failed to start auto-backups: %s", err.Error())
 	}
-	if backupSrv != nil {
-		httpServ.RegisterStatus("auto_backups", backupSrv)
-	}
+	httpServ.RegisterStatus("auto_backups", backupSrv)
 
 	// Block until signalled.
 	terminate := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
diff --git a/http/service.go b/http/service.go
index 76497020..1bdf25e4 100644
--- a/http/service.go
+++ b/http/service.go
@@ -432,6 +432,7 @@ func (s *Service) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 }
 
 // RegisterStatus allows other modules to register status for serving over HTTP.
+// If stat is nil, the key is removed.
 func (s *Service) RegisterStatus(key string, stat StatusReporter) error {
 	s.statusMu.Lock()
 	defer s.statusMu.Unlock()
@@ -439,6 +440,11 @@ func (s *Service) RegisterStatus(key string, stat StatusReporter) error {
 	if _, ok := s.statuses[key]; ok {
 		return fmt.Errorf("status already registered with key %s", key)
 	}
+
+	if stat == nil {
+		delete(s.statuses, key)
+		return nil
+	}
 	s.statuses[key] = stat
 
 	return nil