diff --git a/go/test/endtoend/topoconncache/topo_conn_cache_test.go b/go/test/endtoend/topoconncache/topo_conn_cache_test.go
index 48692b8ed4..65689988f9 100644
--- a/go/test/endtoend/topoconncache/topo_conn_cache_test.go
+++ b/go/test/endtoend/topoconncache/topo_conn_cache_test.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func TestVtctldListAllTablets(t *testing.T) {
 func testListAllTablets(t *testing.T) {
 	// first w/o any filters, aside from cell
 	result, err := clusterInstance.VtctlclientProcess.ExecuteCommandWithOutput("ListAllTablets")
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	tablets := getAllTablets()
 	tabletsFromCMD := strings.Split(result, "\n")
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func deleteCell(t *testing.T) {
 	// Delete cell2 info from topo
 	res, err := clusterInstance.VtctlclientProcess.ExecuteCommandWithOutput("DeleteCellInfo", "--", "--force", cell2)
 	t.Log(res)
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// update clusterInstance to remaining vttablets and shards
 	shard1.Vttablets = []*cluster.Vttablet{shard1Primary}
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func deleteCell(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Now list all tablets
 	result, err := clusterInstance.VtctlclientProcess.ExecuteCommandWithOutput("ListAllTablets")
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	tablets := getAllTablets()
 	tabletsFromCMD := strings.Split(result, "\n")
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func deleteTablet(t *testing.T, tablet *cluster.Vttablet) {
 	wg.Wait()
 
 	err := clusterInstance.VtctlclientProcess.ExecuteCommand("DeleteTablet", tablet.Alias)
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
 func addCellback(t *testing.T) {
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func addCellback(t *testing.T) {
 	clusterInstance.VtctlProcess.TopoRootPath = "/org1/obj1/"
 
 	err := clusterInstance.VtctlProcess.AddCellInfo(cell2)
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// create new vttablets
 	shard1Replica = clusterInstance.NewVttabletInstance("replica", 0, cell2)
@@ -154,29 +154,24 @@ func addCellback(t *testing.T) {
 		)
 		tablet.VttabletProcess.SupportsBackup = true
 		proc, err := tablet.MysqlctlProcess.StartProcess()
-		if err != nil {
-			require.Nil(t, err)
-		}
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		mysqlProcs = append(mysqlProcs, proc)
 	}
 	for _, proc := range mysqlProcs {
-		if err := proc.Wait(); err != nil {
-			require.Nil(t, err)
-		}
+		err := proc.Wait()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
 	for _, tablet := range []*cluster.Vttablet{shard1Replica, shard1Rdonly} {
 		tablet.VttabletProcess.Shard = shard1.Name
-		if err := tablet.VttabletProcess.Setup(); err != nil {
-			require.Nil(t, err)
-		}
+		err := tablet.VttabletProcess.Setup()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
 	for _, tablet := range []*cluster.Vttablet{shard2Replica, shard2Rdonly} {
 		tablet.VttabletProcess.Shard = shard2.Name
-		if err := tablet.VttabletProcess.Setup(); err != nil {
-			require.Nil(t, err)
-		}
+		err := tablet.VttabletProcess.Setup()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
 	shard1.Vttablets = append(shard1.Vttablets, shard1Replica)
@@ -185,7 +180,7 @@ func addCellback(t *testing.T) {
 	shard2.Vttablets = append(shard2.Vttablets, shard1Rdonly)
 
 	result, err := clusterInstance.VtctlclientProcess.ExecuteCommandWithOutput("ListAllTablets")
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	tablets := getAllTablets()
 	tabletsFromCMD := strings.Split(result, "\n")
diff --git a/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go b/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go
index 416b7b4d95..91f4ba3711 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ import (
 	"path"
 	"time"
 
-	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/vschema"
-
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/sqltypes"
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/dbconfigs"
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/grpcclient"
@@ -50,6 +48,7 @@ import (
 	replicationdatapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/replicationdata"
 	tabletmanagerdatapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/tabletmanagerdata"
 	topodatapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/topodata"
+	vschemapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/vschema"
 	vtrpcpb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/vtrpc"
 	vttestpb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/vttest"
 )
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ func CreateTablet(
 func InitRoutingRules(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	ts *topo.Server,
-	rr *vschema.RoutingRules,
+	rr *vschemapb.RoutingRules,
 ) error {
 	if rr == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -899,7 +898,7 @@ func (itmc *internalTabletManagerClient) PromoteReplica(context.Context, *topoda
 	return "", fmt.Errorf("not implemented in vtcombo")
 }
 
-func (itmc *internalTabletManagerClient) Backup(context.Context, *topodatapb.Tablet, int, bool) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
+func (itmc *internalTabletManagerClient) Backup(context.Context, *topodatapb.Tablet, *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("not implemented in vtcombo")
 }
 
diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go b/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go
index 1a11273780..c04beccbd4 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/server.go
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ func (s *VtctldServer) Backup(req *vtctldatapb.BackupRequest, stream vtctlservic
 	span.Annotate("keyspace", ti.Keyspace)
 	span.Annotate("shard", ti.Shard)
 
-	return s.backupTablet(ctx, ti.Tablet, int(req.Concurrency), req.AllowPrimary, stream)
+	return s.backupTablet(ctx, ti.Tablet, req, stream)
 }
 
 // BackupShard is part of the vtctlservicepb.VtctldServer interface.
@@ -386,13 +386,15 @@ func (s *VtctldServer) BackupShard(req *vtctldatapb.BackupShardRequest, stream v
 
 	span.Annotate("tablet_alias", topoproto.TabletAliasString(backupTablet.Alias))
 
-	return s.backupTablet(ctx, backupTablet, int(req.Concurrency), req.AllowPrimary, stream)
+	r := &vtctldatapb.BackupRequest{Concurrency: req.Concurrency, AllowPrimary: req.AllowPrimary}
+	return s.backupTablet(ctx, backupTablet, r, stream)
 }
 
-func (s *VtctldServer) backupTablet(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, concurrency int, allowPrimary bool, stream interface {
+func (s *VtctldServer) backupTablet(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, req *vtctldatapb.BackupRequest, stream interface {
 	Send(resp *vtctldatapb.BackupResponse) error
 }) error {
-	logStream, err := s.tmc.Backup(ctx, tablet, concurrency, allowPrimary)
+	r := &tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest{Concurrency: int64(req.Concurrency), AllowPrimary: req.AllowPrimary}
+	logStream, err := s.tmc.Backup(ctx, tablet, r)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/testutil/test_tmclient.go b/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/testutil/test_tmclient.go
index cd825c99b0..4bbe3f2010 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/testutil/test_tmclient.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/grpcvtctldserver/testutil/test_tmclient.go
@@ -329,8 +329,8 @@ func (stream *backupStreamAdapter) Send(msg *logutilpb.Event) error {
 }
 
 // Backup is part of the tmclient.TabletManagerClient interface.
-func (fake *TabletManagerClient) Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, concurrency int, allowPrimary bool) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
-	if tablet.Type == topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY && !allowPrimary {
+func (fake *TabletManagerClient) Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, req *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
+	if tablet.Type == topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY && !req.AllowPrimary {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot backup primary with allowPrimary=false")
 	}
 
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/faketmclient/fake_client.go b/go/vt/vttablet/faketmclient/fake_client.go
index abace7604d..943860e6c3 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/faketmclient/fake_client.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/faketmclient/fake_client.go
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func (e *eofEventStream) Recv() (*logutilpb.Event, error) {
 }
 
 // Backup is part of the tmclient.TabletManagerClient interface.
-func (client *FakeTabletManagerClient) Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, concurrency int, allowPrimary bool) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
+func (client *FakeTabletManagerClient) Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, req *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
 	return &eofEventStream{}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmclient/client.go b/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmclient/client.go
index ee42b26fb8..d1c2629695 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmclient/client.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmclient/client.go
@@ -904,16 +904,13 @@ func (e *backupStreamAdapter) Recv() (*logutilpb.Event, error) {
 }
 
 // Backup is part of the tmclient.TabletManagerClient interface.
-func (client *Client) Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, concurrency int, allowPrimary bool) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
+func (client *Client) Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, req *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) (logutil.EventStream, error) {
 	c, closer, err := client.dialer.dial(ctx, tablet)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	stream, err := c.Backup(ctx, &tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest{
-		Concurrency:  int64(concurrency),
-		AllowPrimary: allowPrimary,
-	})
+	stream, err := c.Backup(ctx, req)
 	if err != nil {
 		closer.Close()
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmserver/server.go b/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmserver/server.go
index 471fcfc6e0..f646ab056c 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmserver/server.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/grpctmserver/server.go
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ func (s *server) Backup(request *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest, stream table
 		})
 	})
 
-	return s.tm.Backup(ctx, int(request.Concurrency), logger, request.AllowPrimary)
+	return s.tm.Backup(ctx, logger, request)
 }
 
 func (s *server) RestoreFromBackup(request *tabletmanagerdatapb.RestoreFromBackupRequest, stream tabletmanagerservicepb.TabletManager_RestoreFromBackupServer) (err error) {
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_agent.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_agent.go
index 3a76f8313b..dc691fc0bf 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_agent.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_agent.go
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ type RPCTM interface {
 
 	// Backup / restore related methods
 
-	Backup(ctx context.Context, concurrency int, logger logutil.Logger, allowPrimary bool) error
+	Backup(ctx context.Context, logger logutil.Logger, request *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) error
 
 	RestoreFromBackup(ctx context.Context, logger logutil.Logger, backupTime time.Time) error
 
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_backup.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_backup.go
index c8eadea14a..0fa0744a1c 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_backup.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/rpc_backup.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/topo/topoproto"
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/vterrors"
 
+	tabletmanagerdatapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/tabletmanagerdata"
 	topodatapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/topodata"
 )
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 // Backup takes a db backup and sends it to the BackupStorage
-func (tm *TabletManager) Backup(ctx context.Context, concurrency int, logger logutil.Logger, allowPrimary bool) error {
+func (tm *TabletManager) Backup(ctx context.Context, logger logutil.Logger, req *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) error {
 	if tm.Cnf == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot perform backup without my.cnf, please restart vttablet with a my.cnf file specified")
 	}
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ func (tm *TabletManager) Backup(ctx context.Context, concurrency int, logger log
 	// but the process didn't find out about this.
 	// It is not safe to take backups from tablet in this state
 	currentTablet := tm.Tablet()
-	if !allowPrimary && currentTablet.Type == topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY {
+	if !req.AllowPrimary && currentTablet.Type == topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY {
 		return fmt.Errorf("type PRIMARY cannot take backup. if you really need to do this, rerun the backup command with --allow_primary")
 	}
 	engine, err := mysqlctl.GetBackupEngine()
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ func (tm *TabletManager) Backup(ctx context.Context, concurrency int, logger log
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if !allowPrimary && tablet.Type == topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY {
+	if !req.AllowPrimary && tablet.Type == topodatapb.TabletType_PRIMARY {
 		return fmt.Errorf("type PRIMARY cannot take backup. if you really need to do this, rerun the backup command with --allow_primary")
 	}
 
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ func (tm *TabletManager) Backup(ctx context.Context, concurrency int, logger log
 		Cnf:          tm.Cnf,
 		Mysqld:       tm.MysqlDaemon,
 		Logger:       l,
-		Concurrency:  concurrency,
+		Concurrency:  int(req.Concurrency),
 		HookExtraEnv: tm.hookExtraEnv(),
 		TopoServer:   tm.TopoServer,
 		Keyspace:     tablet.Keyspace,
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tmclient/rpc_client_api.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tmclient/rpc_client_api.go
index 72535b29ee..bd3b8b6262 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tmclient/rpc_client_api.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tmclient/rpc_client_api.go
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ type TabletManagerClient interface {
 	//
 
 	// Backup creates a database backup
-	Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, concurrency int, allowPrimary bool) (logutil.EventStream, error)
+	Backup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, req *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) (logutil.EventStream, error)
 
 	// RestoreFromBackup deletes local data and restores database from backup
 	RestoreFromBackup(ctx context.Context, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet, backupTime time.Time) (logutil.EventStream, error)
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tmrpctest/test_tm_rpc.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tmrpctest/test_tm_rpc.go
index 8001a7500d..95910a63e0 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tmrpctest/test_tm_rpc.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tmrpctest/test_tm_rpc.go
@@ -1191,19 +1191,20 @@ var testBackupAllowPrimary = false
 var testBackupCalled = false
 var testRestoreFromBackupCalled = false
 
-func (fra *fakeRPCTM) Backup(ctx context.Context, concurrency int, logger logutil.Logger, allowPrimary bool) error {
+func (fra *fakeRPCTM) Backup(ctx context.Context, logger logutil.Logger, request *tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest) error {
 	if fra.panics {
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("test-triggered panic"))
 	}
-	compare(fra.t, "Backup args", concurrency, testBackupConcurrency)
-	compare(fra.t, "Backup args", allowPrimary, testBackupAllowPrimary)
+	compare(fra.t, "Backup args", request.Concurrency, testBackupConcurrency)
+	compare(fra.t, "Backup args", request.AllowPrimary, testBackupAllowPrimary)
 	logStuff(logger, 10)
 	testBackupCalled = true
 	return nil
 }
 
 func tmRPCTestBackup(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, client tmclient.TabletManagerClient, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet) {
-	stream, err := client.Backup(ctx, tablet, testBackupConcurrency, testBackupAllowPrimary)
+	req := &tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest{Concurrency: int64(testBackupConcurrency), AllowPrimary: testBackupAllowPrimary}
+	stream, err := client.Backup(ctx, tablet, req)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Backup failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -1212,7 +1213,8 @@ func tmRPCTestBackup(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, client tmclient.TabletMa
 }
 
 func tmRPCTestBackupPanic(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, client tmclient.TabletManagerClient, tablet *topodatapb.Tablet) {
-	stream, err := client.Backup(ctx, tablet, testBackupConcurrency, testBackupAllowPrimary)
+	req := &tabletmanagerdatapb.BackupRequest{Concurrency: int64(testBackupConcurrency), AllowPrimary: testBackupAllowPrimary}
+	stream, err := client.Backup(ctx, tablet, req)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Backup failed: %v", err)
 	}