diff --git a/backupninja-backup-pipeline.groovy b/backupninja-backup-pipeline.groovy
index 80467d4..e707814 100644
--- a/backupninja-backup-pipeline.groovy
+++ b/backupninja-backup-pipeline.groovy
@@ -8,10 +8,27 @@
         stage('Setup virtualenv for Pepper') {
             python.setupPepperVirtualenv(pepperEnv, SALT_MASTER_URL, SALT_MASTER_CREDENTIALS)
         }
+        stage('Verify pillar for backups') {
+            try {
+                def masterPillar = salt.getPillar(pepperEnv, "I@salt:master", 'salt:master:initial_data')
+                if (masterPillar['return'].isEmpty()) {
+                    throw new Exception('Problem with salt-master pillar.')
+                }
+                def minionPillar = salt.getPillar(pepperEnv, "I@salt:master", 'salt:minion:initial_data')
+                if (minionPillar['return'].isEmpty()) {
+                    throw new Exception('Problem with salt-minion pillar.')
+                }
+            }
+            catch (Exception e) {
+                common.errorMsg(e.getMessage())
+                common.errorMsg('Please fix your pillar. For more information check docs: https://docs.mirantis.com/mcp/latest/mcp-operations-guide/backup-restore/salt-master.html')
+                return
+            }
+        }
         stage('Check backup location') {
-            try{
-              backupNode = salt.getMinions(pepperEnv, "I@backupninja:client")[0]
-              salt.minionsReachable(pepperEnv, "I@salt:master", backupNode)
+            try {
+                backupNode = salt.getMinions(pepperEnv, "I@backupninja:client")[0]
+                salt.minionsReachable(pepperEnv, "I@salt:master", backupNode)
             }
             catch (Exception e) {
                 common.errorMsg(e.getMessage())
@@ -19,9 +36,9 @@
                 currentBuild.result = "FAILURE"
                 return
             }
-            try{
-              backupServer = salt.getMinions(pepperEnv, "I@backupninja:server")[0]
-              salt.minionsReachable(pepperEnv, "I@salt:master", backupServer)
+            try {
+                backupServer = salt.getMinions(pepperEnv, "I@backupninja:server")[0]
+                salt.minionsReachable(pepperEnv, "I@salt:master", backupServer)
             }
             catch (Exception e) {
                 common.errorMsg(e.getMessage())
@@ -30,30 +47,34 @@
                 return
             }
         }
-        stage ('Prepare for backup') {
-                salt.enforceState(['saltId': pepperEnv, 'target': 'I@backupninja:server', 'state': 'backupninja'])
-                salt.enforceState(['saltId': pepperEnv, 'target': 'I@backupninja:client', 'state': 'backupninja'])
+        stage('Prepare for backup') {
+            salt.enforceState(['saltId': pepperEnv, 'target': 'I@backupninja:server', 'state': 'backupninja'])
+            salt.enforceState(['saltId': pepperEnv, 'target': 'I@backupninja:client', 'state': 'backupninja'])
+            def backupMasterSource = salt.getReturnValues(salt.getPillar(pepperEnv, backupNode, 'salt:master:initial_data:source'))
+            def backupMinionSource = salt.getReturnValues(salt.getPillar(pepperEnv, backupNode, 'salt:minion:initial_data:source'))
+            [backupServer, backupMasterSource, backupMinionSource].unique().each {
+                salt.cmdRun(pepperEnv, backupNode, "ssh-keygen -F ${it} || ssh-keyscan -H ${it} >> /root/.ssh/known_hosts")
+            }
         }
         stage('Backup') {
             def output = salt.getReturnValues(salt.cmdRun(pepperEnv, backupNode, "su root -c 'backupninja --now -d'")).readLines()[-2]
             def outputPattern = java.util.regex.Pattern.compile("\\d+")
             def outputMatcher = outputPattern.matcher(output)
-              if (outputMatcher.find()) {
-                  try{
-                  result = outputMatcher.getAt([0,1,2,3])
-                  }
-                  catch (Exception e){
+            if (outputMatcher.find()) {
+                try {
+                    result = outputMatcher.getAt([0, 1, 2, 3])
+                }
+                catch (Exception e) {
                     common.errorMsg(e.getMessage())
                     common.errorMsg("Parsing failed.")
                     currentBuild.result = "FAILURE"
                     return
-                  }
+                }
             }
-            if (result[1] != null && result[1] instanceof String && result[1].isInteger() && (result[1].toInteger() < 1)){
-              common.successMsg("Backup successfully finished " + result[1] + " fatals, " + result[2] + " errors " + result[3] +" warnings.")
-            }
-            else {
-                common.errorMsg("Backup failed. Found " + result[1] + " fatals, " + result[2] + " errors " + result[3] +" warnings.")
+            if (result[1] != null && result[1] instanceof String && result[1].isInteger() && (result[1].toInteger() < 1)) {
+                common.successMsg("Backup successfully finished " + result[1] + " fatals, " + result[2] + " errors " + result[3] + " warnings.")
+            } else {
+                common.errorMsg("Backup failed. Found " + result[1] + " fatals, " + result[2] + " errors " + result[3] + " warnings.")
                 currentBuild.result = "FAILURE"
                 return
             }