diff --git a/borgmatic_setup.sh b/borgmatic_setup.sh
index cf36322..d260dd8 100755
--- a/borgmatic_setup.sh
+++ b/borgmatic_setup.sh
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ AUTO=0
 NO_UPGRADE=0
 FIRST_BACKUP=0
 IS_REMOTE_SYNOLGY=0
+OVERRIDE_CRONTAB=0
 
 # constants
 readonly SCRIPT_NAME="Borgmatic Backup Setup Tool"
@@ -324,17 +325,27 @@ function dir_exists {
 }
 
 function add_crontab {
-    line="$BACKUP_CRON_SCHEDULE root PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin /root/.local/bin/borgmatic --verbosity -1 --syslog-verbosity 1 # borgmatic backup job"
+    if check_crontab; then
+        if [ $OVERRIDE_CRONTAB -eq 1 ]; then
+            wrn "Crontab file already exists. Overriding existing crontab file."
+        else
+            err "Crontab file already exists. Please remove the existing crontab file or use the --override-crontab option."
+            return 1
+        fi
+    fi
 
-    (crontab -l; echo "$line") | crontab -
+    echo "$BACKUP_CRON_SCHEDULE root PATH=\$PATH:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin /root/.local/bin/borgmatic --verbosity -1 --syslog-verbosity 1" > /etc/cron.d/borgmatic
 
     return $?
 }
 
 function check_crontab {
-    crontab -l | grep -q "# borgmatic backup job"
-
-    return $?
+    # check for file /etc/cron.d/borgmatic
+    if [ -f /etc/cron.d/borgmatic ]; then
+        return 0
+    else
+        return 1
+    fi
 }
 
 function is_remote_synology {
@@ -351,6 +362,7 @@ function is_remote_synology {
 # -h, --help: Show help message
 # -n, --no-upgrade: Skip package upgrades
 # -f, --first-backup: Run the first backup after setup
+# -o, --override-crontab: Override the existing crontab file
 #
 # -R, --repo: Set the backup repository path
 # -E, --encryption: Set the encryption method
@@ -419,6 +431,10 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
             FIRST_BACKUP=1
             shift
             ;;
+        -o|--override-crontab)
+            OVERRIDE_CRONTAB=1
+            shift
+            ;;
         -h|--help)
             inf "Usage: borgmatic_setup.sh [options]"
             inf ""
@@ -433,6 +449,7 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
             inf "  -n, --no-upgrade: Skip package upgrades"
             inf "  -d, --debug: Enable debug mode"
             inf "  -f, --first-backup: Run the first backup after setup"
+            inf "  -o, --override-crontab: Override the existing crontab file"
             inf "  -v, --version: Show script version"
             inf "  -h, --help: Show help message"
             inf ""
@@ -838,18 +855,16 @@ else
     fi
 fi
 
-if ! inf_follow "Checking for cronjob..." "\e[1;32mYes\e[0m" "\e[1;31mNo\e[0m" check_crontab; then
-    if ! inf_follow "Adding borgmatic cron job..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" add_crontab; then
-        err "Failed to add borgmatic cron job."
+if ! inf_follow "Adding borgmatic cron job..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" add_crontab; then
+    err "Failed to add borgmatic cron job."
+    err "If the error persists, please contact the support at $SCRIPT_SUPPORT."
+    exit 1
+else
+    if ! inf_follow "Validating borgmatic cron job..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" check_crontab; then
+        err "Validation of borgmatic cron job failed."
+        err "Please check if the file exists using 'cat /etc/cron.d/borgmatic'."
         err "If the error persists, please contact the support at $SCRIPT_SUPPORT."
         exit 1
-    else
-        if ! inf_follow "Validating borgmatic cron job..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" check_crontab; then
-            err "Validation of borgmatic cron job failed."
-            err "Please check the cron job with crontab -l."
-            err "If the error persists, please contact the support at $SCRIPT_SUPPORT."
-            exit 1
-        fi
     fi
 fi