diff --git a/Lib/sqlite3/test/backup.py b/Lib/sqlite3/test/backup.py
index 903bacf490301c..ad1da9721527c2 100644
--- a/Lib/sqlite3/test/backup.py
+++ b/Lib/sqlite3/test/backup.py
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ def test_bad_target_closed_connection(self):
         with self.assertRaises(sqlite.ProgrammingError):
             self.cx.backup(bck)
 
+    def test_bad_source_closed_connection(self):
+        bck = sqlite.connect(':memory:')
+        source = sqlite.connect(":memory:")
+        source.close()
+        with self.assertRaises(sqlite.ProgrammingError):
+            source.backup(bck)
+
     def test_bad_target_in_transaction(self):
         bck = sqlite.connect(':memory:')
         bck.execute('CREATE TABLE bar (key INTEGER)')
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2020-09-19-23-14-54.bpo-41815.RNpuX3.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2020-09-19-23-14-54.bpo-41815.RNpuX3.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..3560db9bc5d355
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2020-09-19-23-14-54.bpo-41815.RNpuX3.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Fix SQLite3 segfault when backing up closed database. Patch contributed by
+Peter David McCormick.
diff --git a/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c b/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c
index ebe073f644aa50..b6188a36733ef3 100644
--- a/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c
+++ b/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c
@@ -1523,6 +1523,10 @@ pysqlite_connection_backup(pysqlite_Connection *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *
         sleep_ms = (int)ms;
     }
 
+    if (!pysqlite_check_thread(self) || !pysqlite_check_connection(self)) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     if (!pysqlite_check_connection((pysqlite_Connection *)target)) {
         return NULL;
     }