diff --git a/backup_imap/backup_imap.py b/backup_imap/backup_imap.py
index 45c3d7c..93c7193 100644
--- a/backup_imap/backup_imap.py
+++ b/backup_imap/backup_imap.py
@@ -101,8 +101,10 @@ class BackupImap:
             os.mkdir(mailbox_path)
         current = time.gmtime()
         # One year at a time because big mailboxes will take all memory due to Python IMAP library memory handling
+        previous_year=1970
         for year in range(current.tm_year-10, current.tm_year+1):
-            search_response, search_data = self.imap.search('UTF-8', f'(BEFORE "1-Jan-{year}")')
+            search_response, search_data = self.imap.search('UTF-8', f'(SINCE "1-Jan-{previous_year}" BEFORE "1-Jan-{year}")')
+            previous_year = year
             if search_response == 'OK':
                 all_msgs_uids = search_data[0].split()
                 self._log.debug(