diff --git a/vimrc b/vimrc
index 489daa4..196cf7c 100644
--- a/vimrc
+++ b/vimrc
@@ -49,10 +49,11 @@ set nowb
 " ================ Persistent Undo ==================
 " Keep undo history across sessions, by storing in file.
 " Only works all the time.
-
-silent !mkdir ~/.vim/backups > /dev/null 2>&1
-set undodir=~/.vim/backups
-set undofile
+if has('persistent_undo')
+  silent !mkdir ~/.vim/backups > /dev/null 2>&1
+  set undodir=~/.vim/backups
+  set undofile
+endif
 
 " ================ Indentation ======================