diff --git a/manifests/backup/mysqlbackup.pp b/manifests/backup/mysqlbackup.pp
index e7bb4d9..3b0d94d 100644
--- a/manifests/backup/mysqlbackup.pp
+++ b/manifests/backup/mysqlbackup.pp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class mysql::backup::mysqlbackup (
   $include_routines   = false,
   $ensure             = 'present',
   $time               = ['23', '5'],
+  $prescript          = false,
   $postscript         = false,
   $execpath           = '/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin',
 ) {
diff --git a/manifests/backup/mysqldump.pp b/manifests/backup/mysqldump.pp
index 77d5e39..543476d 100644
--- a/manifests/backup/mysqldump.pp
+++ b/manifests/backup/mysqldump.pp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class mysql::backup::mysqldump (
   $include_routines   = false,
   $ensure             = 'present',
   $time               = ['23', '5'],
+  $prescript          = false,
   $postscript         = false,
   $execpath           = '/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin',
 ) {
diff --git a/manifests/backup/xtrabackup.pp b/manifests/backup/xtrabackup.pp
index a9c76ba..4dc31f9 100644
--- a/manifests/backup/xtrabackup.pp
+++ b/manifests/backup/xtrabackup.pp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class mysql::backup::xtrabackup (
   $include_routines   = false,
   $ensure             = 'present',
   $time               = ['23', '5'],
+  $prescript          = false,
   $postscript         = false,
   $execpath           = '/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin',
 ) {
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ class mysql::backup::xtrabackup (
 
   cron { 'xtrabackup-weekly':
     ensure  => $ensure,
-    command => "innobackupex ${backupdir}",
+    command => "/usr/local/sbin/xtrabackup.sh ${backupdir}",
     user    => 'root',
     hour    => $time[0],
     minute  => $time[1],
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ class mysql::backup::xtrabackup (
 
   cron { 'xtrabackup-daily':
     ensure  => $ensure,
-    command => "innobackupex --incremental ${backupdir}",
+    command => "/usr/local/sbin/xtrabackup.sh --incremental ${backupdir}",
     user    => 'root',
     hour    => $time[0],
     minute  => $time[1],
@@ -52,4 +53,13 @@ class mysql::backup::xtrabackup (
     owner  => $backupdirowner,
     group  => $backupdirgroup,
   }
+
+  file { 'xtrabackup.sh':
+    ensure  => $ensure,
+    path    => '/usr/local/sbin/xtrabackup.sh',
+    mode    => '0700',
+    owner   => 'root',
+    group   => $mysql::params::root_group,
+    content => template('mysql/xtrabackup.sh.erb'),
+  }
 }
diff --git a/manifests/server/backup.pp b/manifests/server/backup.pp
index 94e7732..3b1f1ee 100644
--- a/manifests/server/backup.pp
+++ b/manifests/server/backup.pp
@@ -16,11 +16,16 @@ class mysql::server::backup (
   $include_triggers   = false,
   $ensure             = 'present',
   $time               = ['23', '5'],
+  $prescript          = false,
   $postscript         = false,
   $execpath           = '/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/sbin',
   $provider           = 'mysqldump',
 ) {
 
+  if $prescript and $provider =~ /(mysqldump|mysqlbackup)/ {
+    warn("The \$prescript option is not currently implemented for the ${provider} backup provider.")
+  }
+
   create_resources('class', {
     "mysql::backup::${provider}" => {
       'backupuser'         => $backupuser,
@@ -39,6 +44,7 @@ class mysql::server::backup (
       'include_triggers'   => $include_triggers,
       'ensure'             => $ensure,
       'time'               => $time,
+      'prescript'          => $prescript,
       'postscript'         => $postscript,
       'execpath'           => $execpath,
     }
diff --git a/spec/classes/mysql_server_backup_spec.rb b/spec/classes/mysql_server_backup_spec.rb
index ce88ae3..8d19943 100644
--- a/spec/classes/mysql_server_backup_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/mysql_server_backup_spec.rb
@@ -349,6 +349,54 @@ describe 'mysql::server::backup' do
             )
           end
         end
+
+        context 'with the xtrabackup provider' do
+          let(:params) do
+            default_params.merge({:provider => 'xtrabackup'})
+          end
+
+          it 'should contain the wrapper script' do
+            is_expected.to contain_file('xtrabackup.sh').with_content(
+              /^innobackupex\s+"\$@"/
+            )
+          end
+
+          context 'with prescript defined' do
+            let(:params) do
+              default_params.merge({
+                :provider  => 'xtrabackup',
+                :prescript => [
+                  'rsync -a /tmp backup01.local-lan:',
+                  'rsync -a /tmp backup02.local-lan:',
+                ]
+              })
+            end
+
+            it 'should contain the prescript' do
+              is_expected.to contain_file('xtrabackup.sh').with_content(
+                /.*rsync -a \/tmp backup01.local-lan:\n\nrsync -a \/tmp backup02.local-lan:.*/
+              )
+            end
+          end
+
+          context 'with postscript defined' do
+            let(:params) do
+              default_params.merge({
+                :provider  => 'xtrabackup',
+                :postscript => [
+                  'rsync -a /tmp backup01.local-lan:',
+                  'rsync -a /tmp backup02.local-lan:',
+                ]
+              })
+            end
+
+            it 'should contain the prostscript' do
+              is_expected.to contain_file('xtrabackup.sh').with_content(
+                /.*rsync -a \/tmp backup01.local-lan:\n\nrsync -a \/tmp backup02.local-lan:.*/
+              )
+            end
+          end
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/templates/xtrabackup.sh.erb b/templates/xtrabackup.sh.erb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1449398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/xtrabackup.sh.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<%- if @kernel == 'Linux' -%>
+#!/bin/bash
+<%- else -%>
+#!/bin/sh
+<%- end -%>
+#
+# A wrapper for Xtrabackup
+#
+<% if @prescript -%>
+  <%- [@prescript].flatten.compact.each do |script| %>
+<%= script %>
+  <%- end -%>
+<% end -%>
+
+innobackupex "$@"
+
+<% if @postscript -%>
+  <%- [@postscript].flatten.compact.each do |script| %>
+<%= script %>
+  <%- end -%>
+<% end -%>