diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 473e544..a07f2d1 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from uuid import UUID
+from datetime import timedelta
 
 # Name des lokalen Pools
 local_pool_to_backup = "tank"
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@ do_not_backup = [
     "tank/docker",
 ]
 
+recent_scrub_timedelta = timedelta(hours=24)
+
 # überprüfe ob neue Snapshots mit diesen String-Teilen vorliegen
 snapshot_tag = "znap"
 snapshot_interval = "monthly"
diff --git a/zfs-backup.py b/zfs-backup.py
index a0365d7..6e1edf4 100755
--- a/zfs-backup.py
+++ b/zfs-backup.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from datetime import datetime
 from functools import cache
 from os import getuid
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -61,10 +62,10 @@ class Manager:
     def backup(self):
         self._external_pool.import_()
         try:
-            self._external_pool.scrub()
+            self._external_pool.scrub(skip_if_recently_scrubbed=True)
             self._backup_all_datasets()
             self._external_pool.clean_old_snapshots()
-            self._external_pool.scrub()
+            self._external_pool.scrub(skip_if_recently_scrubbed=False)
         finally:
             self._external_pool.export()
 
@@ -280,28 +281,78 @@ class ZFS:
         )
 
     @classmethod
-    def scrub(cls, pool: Pool, *, wait_for_finish: bool = True) -> None:
+    def scrub(cls, pool: Pool, *, skip_if_recently_scrubbed: bool, wait_for_finish: bool = True) -> None:
         if not isinstance(pool, Pool):
             raise TypeError("Can only scrub pools.")
-        if not cls._scrub_in_progress(pool):
-            Command.run([config.ZPOOL, "scrub", pool.name])
+        cls._scrub_if_necessary(pool, skip_if_recently_scrubbed)
         if wait_for_finish:
             Command.run([config.ZPOOL, "wait", "-t", "scrub", pool.name])
         if not cls._healthy(pool):
             raise IOError(f"Pool {pool.name} is not healthy.")
 
+    @classmethod
+    def _scrub_if_necessary(cls, pool: Pool, skip_if_recently_scrubbed: bool) -> None:
+        if cls._scrub_in_progress(pool):
+            return
+        if not skip_if_recently_scrubbed:
+            Command.run([config.ZPOOL, "scrub", pool.name])
+        else:
+            if not cls._recently_scrubbed(pool):
+                Command.run([config.ZPOOL, "scrub", pool.name])
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _recently_scrubbed(cls, pool):
+        return datetime.now() - cls._last_scrub(pool) < config.recent_scrub_timedelta
+
     @classmethod
     def _scrub_in_progress(cls, pool: Pool) -> bool:
-        return "scrub in progress" in cls._pool_status_output(pool)
+        return "scrub in progress" in cls._get_pool_status_output(pool)
 
     @classmethod
     def _healthy(cls, pool: Pool) -> bool:
-        return "ONLINE" in cls._pool_status_output(pool)
+        return "ONLINE" in cls._get_pool_status_output(pool)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _pool_status_output(pool):
+    def _get_pool_status_output(pool) -> str:
         return Command.get_output([config.ZFS, "status", pool.name])
 
+    @classmethod
+    def _last_scrub(cls, pool: Pool) -> datetime:
+        return Time.get_last_scrub_from_status_output(cls._get_pool_status_output(pool))
+
+
+class Time:
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_date_format() -> str:
+        """date format as used by zpool status
+
+        %a: day of week, short version
+        %b: month, short version
+        %e: day of month, space-padded
+        %H, %M, %S: hour, minute, second, zero-padded
+        %Y: year
+        """
+        return "%a %b %e %H:%M:%S %Y"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _extract_datetime_segment(cls, line_with_datetime: str) -> str:
+        return line_with_datetime.split(" errors on ")[-1]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _get_line_with_datetime_from_status_output(cls, output: str) -> str:
+        lines = output.split("\n")
+        for line in lines:
+            if line.startswith("  scan: scrub repaired"):
+                return line.strip()
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Could not find the correct line")
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_last_scrub_from_status_output(cls, output: str) -> datetime:
+        line_with_datetime = cls._get_line_with_datetime_from_status_output(output)
+        date_str = cls._extract_datetime_segment(line_with_datetime)
+        return datetime.strptime(date_str, cls._get_date_format())
+
 
 class Disk:
     def __init__(self, uuid: UUID, name: str):
@@ -380,9 +431,9 @@ class ExternalPool(Pool):
         # TODO cancel scrub if necessary
         ZFS.export_pool(self._name)
 
-    def scrub(self) -> None:
+    def scrub(self, skip_if_recently_scrubbed: bool) -> None:
         print(f"Scrubbing {self._name}")
-        ZFS.scrub(self)
+        ZFS.scrub(self, skip_if_recently_scrubbed=skip_if_recently_scrubbed)
 
     @classmethod
     def find_from_dict(cls, backup_pools: dict[str, UUID]) -> ExternalPool: