diff --git a/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action.go b/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action.go
index 684e2bfa6..5c0637911 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action.go
@@ -17,13 +17,14 @@ limitations under the License.
 package backup
 
 import (
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
+	corev1api "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 
 	"github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/apis/ark/v1"
 	"github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/kuberesource"
-	"github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/util/collections"
 )
 
 // backupPVAction inspects a PersistentVolumeClaim for the PersistentVolume
@@ -47,23 +48,18 @@ func (a *backupPVAction) AppliesTo() (ResourceSelector, error) {
 func (a *backupPVAction) Execute(item runtime.Unstructured, backup *v1.Backup) (runtime.Unstructured, []ResourceIdentifier, error) {
 	a.log.Info("Executing backupPVAction")
 
-	var additionalItems []ResourceIdentifier
-
-	pvc := item.UnstructuredContent()
-
-	volumeName, err := collections.GetString(pvc, "spec.volumeName")
-	// if there's no volume name, it's not an error, since it's possible
-	// for the PVC not be bound; don't return an additional PV item to
-	// back up.
-	if err != nil || volumeName == "" {
-		a.log.Info("No spec.volumeName found for PersistentVolumeClaim")
-		return nil, nil, nil
+	var pvc corev1api.PersistentVolumeClaim
+	if err := runtime.DefaultUnstructuredConverter.FromUnstructured(item.UnstructuredContent(), &pvc); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "unable to convert unstructured item to persistent volume claim")
 	}
 
-	additionalItems = append(additionalItems, ResourceIdentifier{
-		GroupResource: kuberesource.PersistentVolumes,
-		Name:          volumeName,
-	})
+	if pvc.Status.Phase != corev1api.ClaimBound || pvc.Spec.VolumeName == "" {
+		return item, nil, nil
+	}
 
-	return item, additionalItems, nil
+	pv := ResourceIdentifier{
+		GroupResource: kuberesource.PersistentVolumes,
+		Name:          pvc.Spec.VolumeName,
+	}
+	return item, []ResourceIdentifier{pv}, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action_test.go b/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action_test.go
index 9c0c1ef36..bb33b0415 100644
--- a/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action_test.go
+++ b/pkg/backup/backup_pv_action_test.go
@@ -24,13 +24,15 @@ import (
 	arktest "github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/util/test"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	corev1api "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
 )
 
 func TestBackupPVAction(t *testing.T) {
 	pvc := &unstructured.Unstructured{
 		Object: map[string]interface{}{
-			"spec": map[string]interface{}{},
+			"spec":   map[string]interface{}{},
+			"status": map[string]interface{}{},
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -51,11 +53,39 @@ func TestBackupPVAction(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, additional, 0)
 
-	// non-empty spec.volumeName should result in
-	// no error and an additional item for the PV
+	// non-empty spec.volumeName when status.phase is empty
+	// should result in no error and no additional items
 	pvc.Object["spec"].(map[string]interface{})["volumeName"] = "myVolume"
 	_, additional, err = a.Execute(pvc, backup)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, additional, 0)
+
+	// non-empty spec.volumeName when status.phase is 'Pending'
+	// should result in no error and no additional items
+	pvc.Object["status"].(map[string]interface{})["phase"] = corev1api.ClaimPending
+	_, additional, err = a.Execute(pvc, backup)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, additional, 0)
+
+	// non-empty spec.volumeName when status.phase is 'Lost'
+	// should result in no error and no additional items
+	pvc.Object["status"].(map[string]interface{})["phase"] = corev1api.ClaimLost
+	_, additional, err = a.Execute(pvc, backup)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Len(t, additional, 0)
+
+	// non-empty spec.volumeName when status.phase is 'Bound'
+	// should result in no error and one additional item for the PV
+	pvc.Object["status"].(map[string]interface{})["phase"] = corev1api.ClaimBound
+	_, additional, err = a.Execute(pvc, backup)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Len(t, additional, 1)
 	assert.Equal(t, ResourceIdentifier{GroupResource: kuberesource.PersistentVolumes, Name: "myVolume"}, additional[0])
+
+	// empty spec.volumeName when status.phase is 'Bound' should
+	// result in no error and no additional items
+	pvc.Object["spec"].(map[string]interface{})["volumeName"] = ""
+	_, additional, err = a.Execute(pvc, backup)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Len(t, additional, 0)
 }