diff --git a/debian/debian-essentials.sh b/debian/debian-essentials.sh
index 8ecbb9f..a3ff0dc 100755
--- a/debian/debian-essentials.sh
+++ b/debian/debian-essentials.sh
@@ -179,6 +179,22 @@ if [[ -f /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg ]]
         echo "alias lzd='lazydocker'" >> /etc/bash.bashrc
 fi
 
+# create copy of file before editing
+if [[ ! -f /usr/local/bin/cpb ]]; then
+cat <<'EOF' >> /usr/local/bin/cpb
+#!/bin/bash
+
+if [ $# -eq 1 ]
+then
+ cp -pvi "$1" "${1}.bak"
+else
+ echo "Info:  $0 copies to a backup file"
+ echo "Usage: $0 <file to be backed up with .bak extension>"
+fi
+EOF
+chmod +x /usr/local/bin/cpb
+fi
+
 # create tmux config
 rm /etc/tmux.conf* > /dev/null 2>&1
 echo "unbind C-b" >> /etc/tmux.conf