diff --git a/internal/backups/service.go b/internal/backups/service.go
index 60c3abf..d2f66ff 100644
--- a/internal/backups/service.go
+++ b/internal/backups/service.go
@@ -216,37 +216,51 @@ func (s *Service) RestoreDrill(ctx context.Context) (RestoreDrillResult, error)
 		return RestoreDrillResult{}, fmt.Errorf("extract backup: %w", err)
 	}
 	result := RestoreDrillResult{BackupName: files[0].Name}
-	err = filepath.WalkDir(destination, func(path string, entry os.DirEntry, walkErr error) error {
-		if walkErr != nil {
-			return walkErr
-		}
+	filesChecked, err := validateRestoredDatabases(ctx, destination)
+	if err != nil {
+		return RestoreDrillResult{}, err
+	}
+	result.DatabaseFiles = filesChecked
+	result.IntegrityChecked = len(filesChecked)
+	if result.IntegrityChecked == 0 {
+		return RestoreDrillResult{}, errors.New("restored archive contains no SQLite database")
+	}
+	return result, nil
+}
+
+func validateRestoredDatabases(ctx context.Context, destination string) ([]string, error) {
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(destination)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	files := make([]string, 0, 2)
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		// A PocketBase restore boots only the root database files. Nested .db files
+		// are retained forensic/safety snapshots (for example quarantine/) and
+		// must not make an otherwise restorable backup fail its drill.
 		if entry.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(strings.ToLower(entry.Name()), ".db") {
-			return nil
+			continue
 		}
-		relative, _ := filepath.Rel(destination, path)
-		result.DatabaseFiles = append(result.DatabaseFiles, relative)
+		path := filepath.Join(destination, entry.Name())
 		database, err := sql.Open("sqlite", "file:"+path+"?mode=ro")
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("open restored database %s: %w", relative, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("open restored database %s: %w", entry.Name(), err)
 		}
-		defer database.Close()
 		var check string
-		if err := database.QueryRowContext(ctx, "PRAGMA integrity_check").Scan(&check); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("integrity check %s: %w", relative, err)
+		queryErr := database.QueryRowContext(ctx, "PRAGMA integrity_check").Scan(&check)
+		closeErr := database.Close()
+		if queryErr != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("integrity check %s: %w", entry.Name(), queryErr)
+		}
+		if closeErr != nil {
+			return nil, closeErr
 		}
 		if !strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(check), "ok") {
-			return fmt.Errorf("integrity check %s returned %q", relative, check)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("integrity check %s returned %q", entry.Name(), check)
 		}
-		result.IntegrityChecked++
-		return nil
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return RestoreDrillResult{}, err
-	}
-	if result.IntegrityChecked == 0 {
-		return RestoreDrillResult{}, errors.New("restored archive contains no SQLite database")
+		files = append(files, entry.Name())
 	}
-	return result, nil
+	return files, nil
 }
 
 func (s *Service) download(ctx context.Context, name string) (string, func(), error) {
diff --git a/internal/backups/service_test.go b/internal/backups/service_test.go
index b7b7182..2f1cb5e 100644
--- a/internal/backups/service_test.go
+++ b/internal/backups/service_test.go
@@ -2,12 +2,16 @@ package backups
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Phloraxx/payment-api/internal/config"
 	_ "github.com/Phloraxx/payment-api/migrations"
 	"github.com/pocketbase/pocketbase/tests"
+	_ "modernc.org/sqlite"
 )
 
 func TestConfigureCreateAndVerifyLocalBackup(t *testing.T) {
@@ -47,3 +51,34 @@ func TestConfigureCreateAndVerifyLocalBackup(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("drill=%+v", drill)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestValidateRestoredDatabasesIgnoresNestedForensicSnapshots(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	for _, name := range []string{"data.db", "auxiliary.db"} {
+		db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", filepath.Join(dir, name))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if _, err := db.Exec("CREATE TABLE sample (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, value TEXT)"); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := db.Close(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	quarantine := filepath.Join(dir, "quarantine", "20260811")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(quarantine, 0o700); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(quarantine, "auxiliary.db"), []byte("not sqlite"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	files, err := validateRestoredDatabases(context.Background(), dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(files) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("validated files=%v", files)
+	}
+}