diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 3d1725d3..b5606c43 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -977,6 +977,17 @@ pscale billing invoice line-items <invoice-id> --org <org> --format json
 - JSON preserves the API objects. Line items include the billed database and nested resource (usually a branch).
 - Requires `read_invoices` on a service token.
 
+## Emergency backups
+
+`pscale backup create` normally schedules a backup through the regular backup pipeline. `--emergency` instead clones data directly from a live tablet, skipping the wait for the next scheduled backup.
+
+```bash
+pscale backup create <database> <branch> --org <org> --format json \
+  --emergency --emergency-source replica
+```
+
+- `--emergency-source` is `primary` or `replica`. `rdonly` is rejected. It is **required** when `--emergency` is set, and **rejected** when `--emergency` is not set — there is no default source. The create request sends it as `emergency_source`.
+
 ## Neki backup restore
 
 Restoring a Neki backup creates a new branch. Configuration profiles and routers are restored; omitted sizes inherit the source. Sidecar, admin, and parameter settings are not restored.
diff --git a/internal/cmd/backup/create.go b/internal/cmd/backup/create.go
index f3975b96..350327a1 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/backup/create.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/backup/create.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package backup
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/planetscale/cli/internal/cmdutil"
 	ps "github.com/planetscale/cli/internal/planetscale"
@@ -10,11 +12,20 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
+// emergencySources are the valid values for --emergency-source.
+var emergencySources = []string{"primary", "replica"}
+
 func CreateCmd(ch *cmdutil.Helper) *cobra.Command {
 	createReq := &ps.CreateBackupRequest{}
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:     "create <database> <branch>",
-		Short:   "Backup a branch's data and schema",
+		Use:   "create <database> <branch>",
+		Short: "Backup a branch's data and schema",
+		Long: `Backup a branch's data and schema.
+
+--emergency requests an emergency backup, which clones data from a live
+tablet instead of waiting for the next scheduled backup. --emergency-source
+selects which tablet type to clone from (primary or replica) and is required
+with --emergency (and rejected otherwise). rdonly is not accepted.`,
 		Args:    cmdutil.RequiredArgs("database", "branch"),
 		Aliases: []string{"b"},
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -22,6 +33,17 @@ func CreateCmd(ch *cmdutil.Helper) *cobra.Command {
 			database := args[0]
 			branch := args[1]
 
+			if createReq.Emergency {
+				if !cmd.Flags().Changed("emergency-source") {
+					return fmt.Errorf("--emergency-source is required when --emergency is set")
+				}
+				if !slices.Contains(emergencySources, createReq.EmergencySource) {
+					return fmt.Errorf("invalid --emergency-source %q, must be one of: %s", createReq.EmergencySource, strings.Join(emergencySources, ", "))
+				}
+			} else if cmd.Flags().Changed("emergency-source") {
+				return fmt.Errorf("--emergency-source is only valid when --emergency is set")
+			}
+
 			createReq.Database = database
 			createReq.Branch = branch
 			createReq.Organization = ch.Config.Organization
@@ -57,6 +79,8 @@ func CreateCmd(ch *cmdutil.Helper) *cobra.Command {
 	}
 
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&createReq.Name, "name", "", "Optional name for the backup")
+	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&createReq.Emergency, "emergency", false, "Request an emergency backup that clones data from a live tablet instead of waiting for the next scheduled backup. Requires --emergency-source.")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&createReq.EmergencySource, "emergency-source", "", "Tablet type to clone from for an emergency backup: primary or replica. Required with --emergency; rejected otherwise.")
 
 	return cmd
 }
diff --git a/internal/cmd/backup/create_test.go b/internal/cmd/backup/create_test.go
index 83510e10..8737fe9e 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/backup/create_test.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/backup/create_test.go
@@ -106,3 +106,162 @@ func TestBackup_CreateCmdWithName(t *testing.T) {
 	c.Assert(svc.CreateFnInvoked, qt.IsTrue)
 	c.Assert(buf.String(), qt.JSONEquals, res)
 }
+
+func TestBackup_CreateCmdWithEmergency(t *testing.T) {
+	c := qt.New(t)
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	format := printer.JSON
+	p := printer.NewPrinter(&format)
+	p.SetResourceOutput(&buf)
+
+	org := "planetscale"
+	db := "planetscale"
+	branch := "development"
+
+	res := &ps.Backup{Name: "foo"}
+
+	svc := &mock.BackupsService{
+		CreateFn: func(ctx context.Context, req *ps.CreateBackupRequest) (*ps.Backup, error) {
+			c.Assert(req.Organization, qt.Equals, org)
+			c.Assert(req.Database, qt.Equals, db)
+			c.Assert(req.Branch, qt.Equals, branch)
+			c.Assert(req.Emergency, qt.IsTrue)
+			c.Assert(req.EmergencySource, qt.Equals, "replica")
+
+			return res, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	ch := &cmdutil.Helper{
+		Printer: p,
+		Config: &config.Config{
+			Organization: org,
+		},
+		Client: func() (*ps.Client, error) {
+			return &ps.Client{
+				Backups: svc,
+			}, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmd := CreateCmd(ch)
+	cmd.SetArgs([]string{db, branch, "--emergency", "--emergency-source", "replica"})
+	err := cmd.Execute()
+
+	c.Assert(err, qt.IsNil)
+	c.Assert(svc.CreateFnInvoked, qt.IsTrue)
+	c.Assert(buf.String(), qt.JSONEquals, res)
+}
+
+func TestBackup_CreateCmdEmergencyRequiresEmergencySource(t *testing.T) {
+	c := qt.New(t)
+
+	format := printer.JSON
+	p := printer.NewPrinter(&format)
+
+	svc := &mock.BackupsService{}
+
+	ch := &cmdutil.Helper{
+		Printer: p,
+		Config: &config.Config{
+			Organization: "planetscale",
+		},
+		Client: func() (*ps.Client, error) {
+			return &ps.Client{
+				Backups: svc,
+			}, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmd := CreateCmd(ch)
+	cmd.SetArgs([]string{"planetscale", "development", "--emergency"})
+	err := cmd.Execute()
+
+	c.Assert(err, qt.ErrorMatches, "--emergency-source is required when --emergency is set")
+	c.Assert(svc.CreateFnInvoked, qt.IsFalse)
+}
+
+func TestBackup_CreateCmdEmergencySourceRequiresEmergency(t *testing.T) {
+	c := qt.New(t)
+
+	format := printer.JSON
+	p := printer.NewPrinter(&format)
+
+	svc := &mock.BackupsService{}
+
+	ch := &cmdutil.Helper{
+		Printer: p,
+		Config: &config.Config{
+			Organization: "planetscale",
+		},
+		Client: func() (*ps.Client, error) {
+			return &ps.Client{
+				Backups: svc,
+			}, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmd := CreateCmd(ch)
+	cmd.SetArgs([]string{"planetscale", "development", "--emergency-source", "replica"})
+	err := cmd.Execute()
+
+	c.Assert(err, qt.ErrorMatches, "--emergency-source is only valid when --emergency is set")
+	c.Assert(svc.CreateFnInvoked, qt.IsFalse)
+}
+
+func TestBackup_CreateCmdInvalidEmergencySource(t *testing.T) {
+	c := qt.New(t)
+
+	format := printer.JSON
+	p := printer.NewPrinter(&format)
+
+	svc := &mock.BackupsService{}
+
+	ch := &cmdutil.Helper{
+		Printer: p,
+		Config: &config.Config{
+			Organization: "planetscale",
+		},
+		Client: func() (*ps.Client, error) {
+			return &ps.Client{
+				Backups: svc,
+			}, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmd := CreateCmd(ch)
+	cmd.SetArgs([]string{"planetscale", "development", "--emergency", "--emergency-source", "bogus"})
+	err := cmd.Execute()
+
+	c.Assert(err, qt.ErrorMatches, `invalid --emergency-source "bogus", must be one of: primary, replica`)
+	c.Assert(svc.CreateFnInvoked, qt.IsFalse)
+}
+
+func TestBackup_CreateCmdRdonlyEmergencySource(t *testing.T) {
+	c := qt.New(t)
+
+	format := printer.JSON
+	p := printer.NewPrinter(&format)
+
+	svc := &mock.BackupsService{}
+
+	ch := &cmdutil.Helper{
+		Printer: p,
+		Config: &config.Config{
+			Organization: "planetscale",
+		},
+		Client: func() (*ps.Client, error) {
+			return &ps.Client{
+				Backups: svc,
+			}, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	cmd := CreateCmd(ch)
+	cmd.SetArgs([]string{"planetscale", "development", "--emergency", "--emergency-source", "rdonly"})
+	err := cmd.Execute()
+
+	c.Assert(err, qt.ErrorMatches, `invalid --emergency-source "rdonly", must be one of: primary, replica`)
+	c.Assert(svc.CreateFnInvoked, qt.IsFalse)
+}
diff --git a/internal/planetscale/backups.go b/internal/planetscale/backups.go
index 4b831d9c..2cb445f0 100644
--- a/internal/planetscale/backups.go
+++ b/internal/planetscale/backups.go
@@ -34,10 +34,11 @@ type CreateBackupRequest struct {
 	Database     string `json:"-"`
 	Branch       string `json:"-"`
 
-	Name           string `json:"name,omitempty"`
-	RetentionUnit  string `json:"retention_unit,omitempty"`
-	RetentionValue int    `json:"retention_value,omitempty"`
-	Emergency      bool   `json:"emergency,omitempty"`
+	Name            string `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	RetentionUnit   string `json:"retention_unit,omitempty"`
+	RetentionValue  int    `json:"retention_value,omitempty"`
+	Emergency       bool   `json:"emergency,omitempty"`
+	EmergencySource string `json:"emergency_source,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type ListBackupsRequest struct {