diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go b/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go
index 21c4dc272f6..caa99d5e8c8 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go
@@ -431,8 +431,14 @@ func (s *VtctldServer) BackupShard(req *vtctldatapb.BackupShardRequest, stream v
 	span.Annotate("incremental_from_pos", req.IncrementalFromPos)
 
 	tablets, stats, err := reparentutil.ShardReplicationStatuses(ctx, s.ts, s.tmc, req.Keyspace, req.Shard)
+
+	// Instead of return on err directly, only return err when no tablets for backup at all
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		tablets = reparentutil.GetBackupCandidates(tablets, stats)
+		// Only return err when no usable tablet
+		if len(tablets) == 0 {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	var (
diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util.go b/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util.go
index cfde8f34508..ac57e1230d1 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util.go
@@ -343,3 +343,15 @@ func waitForCatchUp(
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// GetBackupCandidates is used to get a list of healthy tablets for backup
+func GetBackupCandidates(tablets []*topo.TabletInfo, stats []*replicationdatapb.Status) (res []*topo.TabletInfo) {
+	for i, stat := range stats {
+		// shardTablets[i] and stats[i] is 1:1 mapping
+		// Always include TabletType_PRIMARY. Healthy shardTablets[i] will be added to tablets
+		if tablets[i].Type == topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY || stat != nil {
+			res = append(res, tablets[i])
+		}
+	}
+	return res
+}
diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util_test.go b/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util_test.go
index a9e6274d490..7b0d624590f 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util_test.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/util_test.go
@@ -1218,3 +1218,105 @@ func Test_getTabletsWithPromotionRules(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestGetBackupCandidates(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		primaryTablet = &topo.TabletInfo{
+			Tablet: &topodatapb.Tablet{
+				Alias: &topodatapb.TabletAlias{
+					Cell: "zone1",
+					Uid:  1,
+				},
+				Type: topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY,
+			},
+		}
+		replicaTablet = &topo.TabletInfo{
+			Tablet: &topodatapb.Tablet{
+				Alias: &topodatapb.TabletAlias{
+					Cell: "zone1",
+					Uid:  2,
+				},
+				Type: topodatapb.TabletType_REPLICA,
+			},
+		}
+		rdonlyTablet = &topo.TabletInfo{
+			Tablet: &topodatapb.Tablet{
+				Alias: &topodatapb.TabletAlias{
+					Cell: "zone1",
+					Uid:  3,
+				},
+				Type: topodatapb.TabletType_RDONLY,
+			},
+		}
+		spareTablet = &topo.TabletInfo{
+			Tablet: &topodatapb.Tablet{
+				Alias: &topodatapb.TabletAlias{
+					Cell: "zone1",
+					Uid:  4,
+				},
+				Type: topodatapb.TabletType_SPARE,
+			},
+		}
+	)
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		in       []*topo.TabletInfo
+		expected []*topo.TabletInfo
+		status   []*replicationdatapb.Status
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "one primary tablet with status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{{}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "one primary tablet with no status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{nil},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "4 tablets with no status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{nil, nil, nil, nil},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "4 tablets with full status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{{}, {}, {}, {}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "4 tablets with no primaryTablet status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{nil, {}, {}, {}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "4 tablets with no replicaTablet status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{{}, nil, {}, {}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "4 tablets with no rdonlyTablet status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, spareTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{{}, {}, nil, {}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "4 tablets with no spareTablet status",
+			in:       []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet, spareTablet},
+			expected: []*topo.TabletInfo{primaryTablet, replicaTablet, rdonlyTablet},
+			status:   []*replicationdatapb.Status{{}, {}, {}, nil},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			res := GetBackupCandidates(tt.in, tt.status)
+			require.EqualValues(t, tt.expected, res)
+		})
+	}
+}