diff --git a/backup/moodle2/backup_stepslib.php b/backup/moodle2/backup_stepslib.php
index 84cf4de3161..de35cc37cfb 100644
--- a/backup/moodle2/backup_stepslib.php
+++ b/backup/moodle2/backup_stepslib.php
@@ -503,6 +503,14 @@ class backup_course_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
  */
 class backup_enrolments_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
 
+    /**
+     * Skip enrolments on the front page.
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function execute_condition() {
+        return ($this->get_courseid() != SITEID);
+    }
+
     protected function define_structure() {
 
         // To know if we are including users
@@ -921,7 +929,12 @@ class backup_gradebook_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
      * the module gradeitems have been already included in backup
      */
     protected function execute_condition() {
-        return backup_plan_dbops::require_gradebook_backup($this->get_courseid(), $this->get_backupid());
+        $courseid = $this->get_courseid();
+        if ($courseid == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return backup_plan_dbops::require_gradebook_backup($courseid, $this->get_backupid());
     }
 
     protected function define_structure() {
@@ -1035,7 +1048,12 @@ class backup_grade_history_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
      * because we do not want to save the history of items which are not backed up. At least for now.
      */
     protected function execute_condition() {
-        return backup_plan_dbops::require_gradebook_backup($this->get_courseid(), $this->get_backupid());
+        $courseid = $this->get_courseid();
+        if ($courseid == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return backup_plan_dbops::require_gradebook_backup($courseid, $this->get_backupid());
     }
 
     protected function define_structure() {
@@ -1088,6 +1106,14 @@ class backup_grade_history_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
  */
 class backup_userscompletion_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
 
+    /**
+     * Skip completion on the front page.
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function execute_condition() {
+        return ($this->get_courseid() != SITEID);
+    }
+
     protected function define_structure() {
 
         // Define each element separated
@@ -1617,6 +1643,7 @@ class backup_main_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
         $info['original_site_identifier_hash'] = md5(get_site_identifier());
         $info['original_course_id'] = $this->get_courseid();
         $originalcourseinfo = backup_controller_dbops::backup_get_original_course_info($this->get_courseid());
+        $info['original_course_format'] = $originalcourseinfo->format;
         $info['original_course_fullname']  = $originalcourseinfo->fullname;
         $info['original_course_shortname'] = $originalcourseinfo->shortname;
         $info['original_course_startdate'] = $originalcourseinfo->startdate;
@@ -1634,7 +1661,7 @@ class backup_main_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
         $information = new backup_nested_element('information', null, array(
             'name', 'moodle_version', 'moodle_release', 'backup_version',
             'backup_release', 'backup_date', 'mnet_remoteusers', 'include_files', 'include_file_references_to_external_content', 'original_wwwroot',
-            'original_site_identifier_hash', 'original_course_id',
+            'original_site_identifier_hash', 'original_course_id', 'original_course_format',
             'original_course_fullname', 'original_course_shortname', 'original_course_startdate',
             'original_course_contextid', 'original_system_contextid'));
 
@@ -2102,6 +2129,12 @@ class backup_activity_grading_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
      * Include the grading.xml only if the module supports advanced grading
      */
     protected function execute_condition() {
+
+        // No grades on the front page.
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         return plugin_supports('mod', $this->get_task()->get_modulename(), FEATURE_ADVANCED_GRADING, false);
     }
 
@@ -2175,6 +2208,14 @@ class backup_activity_grading_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
  */
 class backup_activity_grades_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
 
+    /**
+     * No grades on the front page.
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function execute_condition() {
+        return ($this->get_courseid() != SITEID);
+    }
+
     protected function define_structure() {
 
         // To know if we are including userinfo
@@ -2259,6 +2300,14 @@ class backup_activity_grades_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
  */
 class backup_activity_grade_history_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
 
+    /**
+     * No grades on the front page.
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function execute_condition() {
+        return ($this->get_courseid() != SITEID);
+    }
+
     protected function define_structure() {
 
         // Settings to use.
@@ -2306,6 +2355,12 @@ class backup_activity_grade_history_structure_step extends backup_structure_step
 class backup_course_completion_structure_step extends backup_structure_step {
 
     protected function execute_condition() {
+
+        // No completion on front page.
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         // Check that all activities have been included
         if ($this->task->is_excluding_activities()) {
             return false;
diff --git a/backup/moodle2/restore_stepslib.php b/backup/moodle2/restore_stepslib.php
index fc4fe154ca6..ee4fa9d2c83 100644
--- a/backup/moodle2/restore_stepslib.php
+++ b/backup/moodle2/restore_stepslib.php
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ class restore_gradebook_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
      protected function execute_condition() {
         global $CFG, $DB;
 
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         // No gradebook info found, don't execute
         $fullpath = $this->task->get_taskbasepath();
         $fullpath = rtrim($fullpath, '/') . '/' . $this->filename;
@@ -464,6 +468,10 @@ class restore_grade_history_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
      protected function execute_condition() {
         global $CFG, $DB;
 
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         // No gradebook info found, don't execute.
         $fullpath = $this->task->get_taskbasepath();
         $fullpath = rtrim($fullpath, '/') . '/' . $this->filename;
@@ -1814,9 +1822,15 @@ class restore_ras_and_caps_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
  * If no instances yet add default enrol methods the same way as when creating new course in UI.
  */
 class restore_default_enrolments_step extends restore_execution_step {
+
     public function define_execution() {
         global $DB;
 
+        // No enrolments in front page.
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         $course = $DB->get_record('course', array('id'=>$this->get_courseid()), '*', MUST_EXIST);
 
         if ($DB->record_exists('enrol', array('courseid'=>$this->get_courseid(), 'enrol'=>'manual'))) {
@@ -1853,6 +1867,10 @@ class restore_enrolments_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
      */
     protected function execute_condition() {
 
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         // Check it is included in the backup
         $fullpath = $this->task->get_taskbasepath();
         $fullpath = rtrim($fullpath, '/') . '/' . $this->filename;
@@ -2444,6 +2462,11 @@ class restore_course_completion_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
             return false;
         }
 
+        // No course completion on the front page.
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         // Check it is included in the backup
         $fullpath = $this->task->get_taskbasepath();
         $fullpath = rtrim($fullpath, '/') . '/' . $this->filename;
@@ -2791,6 +2814,10 @@ class restore_activity_grading_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
      */
      protected function execute_condition() {
 
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         $fullpath = $this->task->get_taskbasepath();
         $fullpath = rtrim($fullpath, '/') . '/' . $this->filename;
         if (!file_exists($fullpath)) {
@@ -2925,6 +2952,14 @@ class restore_activity_grading_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
  */
 class restore_activity_grades_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
 
+    /**
+     * No grades in front page.
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    protected function execute_condition() {
+        return ($this->get_courseid() != SITEID);
+    }
+
     protected function define_structure() {
 
         $paths = array();
@@ -3061,6 +3096,11 @@ class restore_activity_grade_history_structure_step extends restore_structure_st
      * This step is executed only if the grade history file is present.
      */
      protected function execute_condition() {
+
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         $fullpath = $this->task->get_taskbasepath();
         $fullpath = rtrim($fullpath, '/') . '/' . $this->filename;
         if (!file_exists($fullpath)) {
@@ -3447,6 +3487,11 @@ class restore_userscompletion_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
              return false;
          }
 
+        // No completion on the front page.
+        if ($this->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
          // No user completion info found, don't execute
         $fullpath = $this->task->get_taskbasepath();
         $fullpath = rtrim($fullpath, '/') . '/' . $this->filename;
diff --git a/backup/moodle2/tests/moodle2_test.php b/backup/moodle2/tests/moodle2_test.php
index 960c9eca09d..4842d4a8d18 100644
--- a/backup/moodle2/tests/moodle2_test.php
+++ b/backup/moodle2/tests/moodle2_test.php
@@ -391,6 +391,81 @@ class core_backup_moodle2_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
                 'assign', 'allowsubmissionsfromdate', array('id' => $newassign->instance)));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test front page backup/restore and duplicate activities
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function test_restore_frontpage() {
+        global $DB, $CFG, $USER;
+
+        $this->resetAfterTest(true);
+        $this->setAdminUser();
+        $generator = $this->getDataGenerator();
+
+        $frontpage = $DB->get_record('course', array('id' => SITEID));
+        $forum = $generator->create_module('forum', array('course' => $frontpage->id));
+
+        // Activities can be duplicated.
+        $this->duplicate($frontpage, $forum->cmid);
+
+        $modinfo = get_fast_modinfo($frontpage);
+        $this->assertEquals(2, count($modinfo->get_instances_of('forum')));
+
+        // Front page backup.
+        $frontpagebc = new backup_controller(backup::TYPE_1COURSE, $frontpage->id,
+                backup::FORMAT_MOODLE, backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, backup::MODE_IMPORT,
+                $USER->id);
+        $frontpagebackupid = $frontpagebc->get_backupid();
+        $frontpagebc->execute_plan();
+        $frontpagebc->destroy();
+
+        $course = $generator->create_course();
+        $newcourseid = restore_dbops::create_new_course(
+                $course->fullname . ' 2', $course->shortname . '_2', $course->category);
+
+        // Other course backup.
+        $bc = new backup_controller(backup::TYPE_1COURSE, $course->id,
+                backup::FORMAT_MOODLE, backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, backup::MODE_IMPORT,
+                $USER->id);
+        $otherbackupid = $bc->get_backupid();
+        $bc->execute_plan();
+        $bc->destroy();
+
+        // We can only restore a front page over the front page.
+        $rc = new restore_controller($frontpagebackupid, $course->id,
+                backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, backup::MODE_GENERAL, $USER->id,
+                backup::TARGET_CURRENT_ADDING);
+        $this->assertFalse($rc->execute_precheck());
+        $rc->destroy();
+
+        $rc = new restore_controller($frontpagebackupid, $newcourseid,
+                backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, backup::MODE_GENERAL, $USER->id,
+                backup::TARGET_NEW_COURSE);
+        $this->assertFalse($rc->execute_precheck());
+        $rc->destroy();
+
+        $rc = new restore_controller($frontpagebackupid, $frontpage->id,
+                backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, backup::MODE_GENERAL, $USER->id,
+                backup::TARGET_CURRENT_ADDING);
+        $this->assertTrue($rc->execute_precheck());
+        $rc->execute_plan();
+        $rc->destroy();
+
+        // We can't restore a non-front page course on the front page course.
+        $rc = new restore_controller($otherbackupid, $frontpage->id,
+                backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, backup::MODE_GENERAL, $USER->id,
+                backup::TARGET_CURRENT_ADDING);
+        $this->assertFalse($rc->execute_precheck());
+        $rc->destroy();
+
+        $rc = new restore_controller($otherbackupid, $newcourseid,
+                backup::INTERACTIVE_NO, backup::MODE_GENERAL, $USER->id,
+                backup::TARGET_NEW_COURSE);
+        $this->assertTrue($rc->execute_precheck());
+        $rc->execute_plan();
+        $rc->destroy();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Backs a course up and restores it.
      *
diff --git a/backup/util/dbops/backup_controller_dbops.class.php b/backup/util/dbops/backup_controller_dbops.class.php
index 41ff9d394bd..e7456ce4663 100644
--- a/backup/util/dbops/backup_controller_dbops.class.php
+++ b/backup/util/dbops/backup_controller_dbops.class.php
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ abstract class backup_controller_dbops extends backup_dbops {
      */
     public static function backup_get_original_course_info($courseid) {
         global $DB;
-        return $DB->get_record('course', array('id' => $courseid), 'fullname, shortname, startdate');
+        return $DB->get_record('course', array('id' => $courseid), 'fullname, shortname, startdate, format');
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/backup/util/helper/backup_general_helper.class.php b/backup/util/helper/backup_general_helper.class.php
index d9ad80d5b28..b0425a33094 100644
--- a/backup/util/helper/backup_general_helper.class.php
+++ b/backup/util/helper/backup_general_helper.class.php
@@ -155,6 +155,11 @@ abstract class backup_general_helper extends backup_helper {
         } else {
             $info->include_file_references_to_external_content = 0;
         }
+        // Introduced in Moodle 2.9.
+        $info->original_course_format = '';
+        if (!empty($infoarr['original_course_format'])) {
+            $info->original_course_format = $infoarr['original_course_format'];
+        }
         // include_files is a new setting in 2.6.
         if (isset($infoarr['include_files'])) {
             $info->include_files = $infoarr['include_files'];
diff --git a/backup/util/helper/restore_prechecks_helper.class.php b/backup/util/helper/restore_prechecks_helper.class.php
index a80a80b3055..803cd77903d 100644
--- a/backup/util/helper/restore_prechecks_helper.class.php
+++ b/backup/util/helper/restore_prechecks_helper.class.php
@@ -105,10 +105,24 @@ abstract class restore_prechecks_helper {
             $warnings[] = get_string('noticenewerbackup','',$message);
         }
 
-        // Error if restoring over frontpage
-        // TODO: Review the whole restore process in order to transform this into one warning (see 1.9)
-        if ($controller->get_courseid() == SITEID) {
-            $errors[] = get_string('errorrestorefrontpage', 'backup');
+        // The original_course_format var was introduced in Moodle 2.9.
+        $originalcourseformat = null;
+        if (!empty($controller->get_info()->original_course_format)) {
+            $originalcourseformat = $controller->get_info()->original_course_format;
+        }
+
+        // We can't restore other course's backups on the front page.
+        if ($controller->get_courseid() == SITEID &&
+                $originalcourseformat != 'site' &&
+                $controller->get_type() == backup::TYPE_1COURSE) {
+            $errors[] = get_string('errorrestorefrontpagebackup', 'backup');
+        }
+
+        // We can't restore front pages over other courses.
+        if ($controller->get_courseid() != SITEID &&
+                $originalcourseformat == 'site' &&
+                $controller->get_type() == backup::TYPE_1COURSE) {
+            $errors[] = get_string('errorrestorefrontpagebackup', 'backup');
         }
 
         // If restoring to different site and restoring users and backup has mnet users warn/error
diff --git a/backup/util/ui/renderer.php b/backup/util/ui/renderer.php
index 98ed652d360..d5d0f11d006 100644
--- a/backup/util/ui/renderer.php
+++ b/backup/util/ui/renderer.php
@@ -265,7 +265,9 @@ class core_backup_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
         $hasrestoreoption = false;
 
         $html  = html_writer::start_tag('div', array('class'=>'backup-course-selector backup-restore'));
-        if ($wholecourse && !empty($categories) && ($categories->get_count() > 0 || $categories->get_search())) {
+        if ($wholecourse && !empty($categories) && ($categories->get_count() > 0 || $categories->get_search()) &&
+                $currentcourse != SITEID) {
+
             // New course
             $hasrestoreoption = true;
             $html .= $form;
@@ -306,7 +308,7 @@ class core_backup_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
             $courses->invalidate_results(); // Clean list of courses.
             $courses->set_include_currentcourse();
         }
-        if (!empty($courses) && ($courses->get_count() > 0 || $courses->get_search())) {
+        if (!empty($courses) && ($courses->get_count() > 0 || $courses->get_search()) && $currentcourse != SITEID) {
             // Existing course
             $hasrestoreoption = true;
             $html .= $form;
diff --git a/backup/util/ui/restore_ui_components.php b/backup/util/ui/restore_ui_components.php
index f892b8cf108..cbd4c7041f8 100644
--- a/backup/util/ui/restore_ui_components.php
+++ b/backup/util/ui/restore_ui_components.php
@@ -280,13 +280,13 @@ class restore_course_search extends restore_search_base {
         $params = array(
             'contextlevel' => CONTEXT_COURSE,
             'fullnamesearch' => '%'.$this->get_search().'%',
-            'shortnamesearch' => '%'.$this->get_search().'%',
-            'siteid' => SITEID
+            'shortnamesearch' => '%'.$this->get_search().'%'
         );
 
         $select     = " SELECT c.id,c.fullname,c.shortname,c.visible,c.sortorder ";
         $from       = " FROM {course} c ";
-        $where      = " WHERE (".$DB->sql_like('c.fullname', ':fullnamesearch', false)." OR ".$DB->sql_like('c.shortname', ':shortnamesearch', false).") AND c.id <> :siteid";
+        $where      = " WHERE (".$DB->sql_like('c.fullname', ':fullnamesearch', false)." OR ".
+            $DB->sql_like('c.shortname', ':shortnamesearch', false).")";
         $orderby    = " ORDER BY c.sortorder";
 
         if ($this->currentcourseid !== null && !$this->includecurrentcourse) {
diff --git a/course/lib.php b/course/lib.php
index cd83b66a4b9..07cd6ed218d 100644
--- a/course/lib.php
+++ b/course/lib.php
@@ -2054,8 +2054,7 @@ function course_get_cm_edit_actions(cm_info $mod, $indent = -1, $sr = null) {
     }
 
     // Duplicate (require both target import caps to be able to duplicate and backup2 support, see modduplicate.php)
-    // Note that restoring on front page is never allowed.
-    if ($mod->course != SITEID && has_all_capabilities($dupecaps, $coursecontext) &&
+    if (has_all_capabilities($dupecaps, $coursecontext) &&
             plugin_supports('mod', $mod->modname, FEATURE_BACKUP_MOODLE2)) {
         $actions['duplicate'] = new action_menu_link_secondary(
             new moodle_url($baseurl, array('duplicate' => $mod->id)),
diff --git a/lang/en/backup.php b/lang/en/backup.php
index f2173e38289..a449f120dfb 100644
--- a/lang/en/backup.php
+++ b/lang/en/backup.php
@@ -114,9 +114,9 @@ $string['error_course_module_not_found'] = 'Orphan course module (id: {$a}) foun
 $string['errorfilenamerequired'] = 'You must enter a valid filename for this backup';
 $string['errorfilenamemustbezip'] = 'The filename you enter must be a ZIP file and have the .mbz extension';
 $string['errorminbackup20version'] = 'This backup file has been created with one development version of Moodle backup ({$a->backup}). Minimum required is {$a->min}. Cannot be restored.';
-$string['errorrestorefrontpage'] = 'Restoring over front page is not allowed.';
 $string['errorinvalidformat'] = 'Unknown backup format';
 $string['errorinvalidformatinfo'] = 'The selected file is not a valid Moodle backup file and can\'t be restored.';
+$string['errorrestorefrontpagebackup'] = 'You can only restore front page backups on the front page';
 $string['executionsuccess'] = 'The backup file was successfully created.';
 $string['filename'] = 'Filename';
 $string['filealiasesrestorefailures'] = 'Aliases restore failures';