diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index d78ec880..ddb116ca 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -208,8 +208,12 @@ CVS code -
 	  after the terminal is properly set up, so that we can restore
 	  it easily after a resize. (DLR)
 	- Add missing cast to char when calling do_char(). (DLR)
+	- Don't initialize the backup directory if we're in restricted
+	  mode, since backups are disabled then. (DLR)
 	- Check $SPELL for an alternative spell checker if we didn't get
-	  one from the command line and/or rcfile, as Pico does. (DLR)
+	  one from the command line and/or rcfile, as Pico does.  Don't
+	  do this if we're in restricted mode, since spell checking is
+	  disabled then. (DLR)
 - nano.h:
 	- Since REGEXP_COMPILED is only used in search.c, convert it
 	  from a flag to a static int there. (DLR)
diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index 1aebe419..3109bacb 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -3367,14 +3367,17 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif
 
 #ifndef NANO_SMALL
-    /* Set up the backup directory.  This entails making sure it exists
-     * and is a directory, so that backup files will be saved there. */
-    init_backup_dir();
+    /* Set up the backup directory (unless we're using restricted mode,
+     * in which case backups are disabled).  This entails making sure it
+     * exists and is a directory, so that backup files will be saved
+     * there. */
+    if (!ISSET(RESTRICTED))
+	init_backup_dir();
 #endif
 
 #ifndef DISABLE_OPERATINGDIR
     /* Set up the operating directory.  This entails chdir()ing there,
-       so that file reads and writes will be based there. */
+     * so that file reads and writes will be based there. */
     init_operating_dir();
 #endif
 
@@ -3390,8 +3393,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #ifndef DISABLE_SPELLER
     /* If we don't have an alternative spell checker after reading the
      * command line and/or rcfile, check $SPELL for one, as Pico
-     * does. */
-    if (alt_speller == NULL) {
+     * does (unless we're using restricted mode, in which case spell
+     * checking is disabled). */
+    if (!ISSET(RESTRICTED) && alt_speller == NULL) {
 	char *spellenv = getenv("SPELL");
 	if (spellenv != NULL)
 	    alt_speller = mallocstrcpy(NULL, spellenv);