diff --git a/scripts/disk_check.sh b/scripts/disk_check.sh
index 743233e..c47c453 100755
--- a/scripts/disk_check.sh
+++ b/scripts/disk_check.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ if [ "${used//%}" -ge 95 ]; then
     purge) echo "Removing oldest data"
         cd ${EXTRACTED}/By_Date/
         curl localhost/views.php?view=Species%20Stats &>/dev/null
+        if ! grep -qxFe \#\#start $HOME/BirdNET-Pi/scripts/disk_check_exclude.txt; then
+            exit
+        fi
         filestodelete=$(($(find ${EXTRACTED}/By_Date/* -type f | wc -l) / $(find ${EXTRACTED}/By_Date/* -maxdepth 0 -type d | wc -l)))
         iter=0
         for i in */*/*; do