diff --git a/tools/bigtable-backup/bigtable-backup.py b/tools/bigtable-backup/bigtable-backup.py
index 576eeb060d50..8ae8470d1eea 100644
--- a/tools/bigtable-backup/bigtable-backup.py
+++ b/tools/bigtable-backup/bigtable-backup.py
@@ -63,10 +63,7 @@ def ensure_backups(args):
 
     num_backups_deleted = 0
 
-    # list backups again to verify them below
-    backups = list_backups(args.destination_path)
-
-    print("Checking whether all the backups are created after their period is over and deleting old unwanted backups")
+    print("Checking whether all the backups are created after their period is over")
     for table_id, timestamps in backups.items():
         table_number = int(table_id.rsplit("_", 1)[-1])
         last_timestamp_from_table_number = find_last_timestamp_from_table_number(table_number,
@@ -76,6 +73,13 @@ def ensure_backups(args):
         if last_timestamp_from_table_number > timestamps[-1]:
             create_backup(table_id, args)
 
+    # list backups again to consider for deletion of unwanted backups since new backups might have been created above
+    backups = list_backups(args.destination_path)
+
+    print("Deleting old unwanted backups")
+    for table_id, timestamps in backups.items():
+        table_number = int(table_id.rsplit("_", 1)[-1])
+
         # Retain only most recent backup for non active table
         if table_number != active_table_number and len(timestamps) > 1:
             for timestamp in timestamps[:-1]: