diff --git a/archiver.go b/archiver.go
index 594b56673..6e475a5be 100644
--- a/archiver.go
+++ b/archiver.go
@@ -5,9 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"sync"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/juju/arrar"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/backend"
@@ -17,50 +15,28 @@ import (
 const (
 	maxConcurrentFiles = 8
 	maxConcurrentBlobs = 8
-
-	statTimeout = 20 * time.Millisecond
 )
 
 type Archiver struct {
 	s  Server
 	ch *ContentHandler
 
-	bl       *BlobList // blobs used for the current snapshot
-	parentBl *BlobList // blobs from the parent snapshot
+	bl *BlobList // blobs used for the current snapshot
 
 	fileToken chan struct{}
 	blobToken chan struct{}
 
-	Stats Stats
-
 	Error  func(dir string, fi os.FileInfo, err error) error
 	Filter func(item string, fi os.FileInfo) bool
 
-	ScannerStats chan Stats
-	SaveStats    chan Stats
-
-	statsMutex  sync.Mutex
-	updateStats Stats
+	p *Progress
 }
 
-type Stats struct {
-	Files       int
-	Directories int
-	Other       int
-	Bytes       uint64
-}
-
-func (s *Stats) Add(other Stats) {
-	s.Bytes += other.Bytes
-	s.Directories += other.Directories
-	s.Files += other.Files
-	s.Other += other.Other
-}
-
-func NewArchiver(s Server) (*Archiver, error) {
+func NewArchiver(s Server, p *Progress) (*Archiver, error) {
 	var err error
 	arch := &Archiver{
 		s:         s,
+		p:         p,
 		fileToken: make(chan struct{}, maxConcurrentFiles),
 		blobToken: make(chan struct{}, maxConcurrentBlobs),
 	}
@@ -80,12 +56,10 @@ func NewArchiver(s Server) (*Archiver, error) {
 	arch.Filter = func(string, os.FileInfo) bool { return true }
 
 	arch.bl = NewBlobList()
-	arch.ch, err = NewContentHandler(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+	arch.ch = NewContentHandler(s)
 
 	// load all blobs from all snapshots
+	// TODO: only use bloblist from old snapshot if available
 	err = arch.ch.LoadAllMaps()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -94,34 +68,6 @@ func NewArchiver(s Server) (*Archiver, error) {
 	return arch, nil
 }
 
-func (arch *Archiver) update(ch chan Stats, stats Stats) {
-	if ch == nil {
-		return
-	}
-
-	// load old stats from global state
-	arch.statsMutex.Lock()
-	stats.Add(arch.updateStats)
-	arch.updateStats = Stats{}
-	arch.statsMutex.Unlock()
-
-	// try to send stats through the channel, with a timeout
-	timeout := time.After(statTimeout)
-
-	select {
-	case ch <- stats:
-		break
-	case _ = <-timeout:
-
-		// save cumulated stats to global state
-		arch.statsMutex.Lock()
-		arch.updateStats.Add(stats)
-		arch.statsMutex.Unlock()
-
-		break
-	}
-}
-
 func (arch *Archiver) Save(t backend.Type, data []byte) (Blob, error) {
 	blob, err := arch.ch.Save(t, data)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -152,7 +98,28 @@ func (arch *Archiver) SaveFile(node *Node) error {
 	file, err := os.Open(node.path)
 	defer file.Close()
 	if err != nil {
-		return arrar.Annotate(err, "SaveFile()")
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// check file again
+	fi, err := file.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if fi.ModTime() != node.ModTime {
+		e2 := arch.Error(node.path, fi, errors.New("file changed as we read it\n"))
+
+		if e2 == nil {
+			// create new node
+			n, err := NodeFromFileInfo(node.path, fi)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			// copy node
+			*node = *n
+		}
 	}
 
 	var blobs Blobs
@@ -181,7 +148,7 @@ func (arch *Archiver) SaveFile(node *Node) error {
 				return arrar.Annotate(err, "SaveFile() save chunk")
 			}
 
-			arch.update(arch.SaveStats, Stats{Bytes: blob.Size})
+			arch.p.Report(Stat{Bytes: blob.Size})
 
 			blobs = Blobs{blob}
 		}
@@ -221,7 +188,7 @@ func (arch *Archiver) SaveFile(node *Node) error {
 
 				FreeChunkBuf("blob chunker", buf)
 
-				arch.update(arch.SaveStats, Stats{Bytes: blob.Size})
+				arch.p.Report(Stat{Bytes: blob.Size})
 				arch.blobToken <- token
 				ch <- blob
 			}(resCh)
@@ -255,217 +222,17 @@ func (arch *Archiver) SaveFile(node *Node) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (arch *Archiver) populateFromOldTree(tree, oldTree Tree) error {
-	// update content from old tree
-	err := tree.PopulateFrom(oldTree)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// add blobs to bloblist
-	for _, node := range tree {
-		if node.Content != nil {
-			for _, blobID := range node.Content {
-				blob, err := arch.parentBl.Find(Blob{ID: blobID})
-				if err != nil {
-					return err
-				}
-
-				arch.bl.Insert(blob)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (arch *Archiver) loadTree(dir string, oldTreeID backend.ID) (*Tree, error) {
-	var (
-		oldTree Tree
-		err     error
-	)
-
-	if oldTreeID != nil {
-		// load old tree
-		oldTree, err = LoadTree(arch.ch, oldTreeID)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "load old tree")
-		}
-
-		debug("old tree: %v\n", oldTree)
-	}
-
-	// open and list path
-	fd, err := os.Open(dir)
-	defer fd.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, arch.Error(dir, nil, err)
-	}
-
-	entries, err := fd.Readdir(-1)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	// build new tree
-	tree := Tree{}
-	for _, entry := range entries {
-		path := filepath.Join(dir, entry.Name())
-
-		if !arch.Filter(path, entry) {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		node, err := NodeFromFileInfo(path, entry)
-		if err != nil {
-			// TODO: error processing
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		err = tree.Insert(node)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		if entry.IsDir() {
-			oldSubtree, err := oldTree.Find(node.Name)
-			if err != nil && err != ErrNodeNotFound {
-				return nil, err
-			}
-
-			var oldSubtreeID backend.ID
-			if err == nil {
-				oldSubtreeID = oldSubtree.Subtree
-			}
-
-			node.Tree, err = arch.loadTree(path, oldSubtreeID)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// populate with content from oldTree
-	err = arch.populateFromOldTree(tree, oldTree)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	for _, node := range tree {
-		if node.Type == "file" && node.Content != nil {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		switch node.Type {
-		case "file":
-			arch.Stats.Files++
-			arch.Stats.Bytes += node.Size
-		case "dir":
-			arch.Stats.Directories++
-		default:
-			arch.Stats.Other++
-		}
-	}
-
-	arch.update(arch.ScannerStats, arch.Stats)
-
-	return &tree, nil
-}
-
-func (arch *Archiver) LoadTree(path string, parentSnapshot backend.ID) (*Tree, error) {
-	var oldTree Tree
-
-	if parentSnapshot != nil {
-		// load old tree from snapshot
-		snapshot, err := LoadSnapshot(arch.ch, parentSnapshot)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "load old snapshot")
-		}
-
-		if snapshot.Tree == nil {
-			return nil, errors.New("snapshot without tree!")
-		}
-
-		// load old bloblist from snapshot
-		arch.parentBl, err = LoadBlobList(arch.ch, snapshot.Map)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		oldTree, err = LoadTree(arch.ch, snapshot.Tree)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "load old tree")
-		}
-
-		debug("old tree: %v\n", oldTree)
-	}
-
-	// reset global stats
-	arch.updateStats = Stats{}
-
-	fi, err := os.Lstat(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, arrar.Annotatef(err, "Lstat(%q)", path)
-	}
-
-	node, err := NodeFromFileInfo(path, fi)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "NodeFromFileInfo()")
-	}
-
-	if node.Type != "dir" {
-		t := &Tree{node}
-
-		// populate with content from oldTree
-		err = arch.populateFromOldTree(*t, oldTree)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		// if no old node has been found, update stats
-		if node.Content == nil && node.Subtree == nil {
-			arch.Stats.Files = 1
-			arch.Stats.Bytes = node.Size
-		}
-
-		arch.update(arch.ScannerStats, arch.Stats)
-
-		return t, nil
-	}
-
-	arch.Stats.Directories = 1
-
-	var oldSubtreeID backend.ID
-	oldSubtree, err := oldTree.Find(node.Name)
-	if err != nil && err != ErrNodeNotFound {
-		return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "search node in old tree")
-	}
-
-	if err == nil {
-		oldSubtreeID = oldSubtree.Subtree
-	}
-
-	node.Tree, err = arch.loadTree(path, oldSubtreeID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "loadTree()")
-	}
-
-	arch.update(arch.ScannerStats, arch.Stats)
-
-	return &Tree{node}, nil
-}
-
 func (arch *Archiver) saveTree(t *Tree) (Blob, error) {
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 
 	for _, node := range *t {
-		if node.Tree != nil && node.Subtree == nil {
-			b, err := arch.saveTree(node.Tree)
+		if node.tree != nil && node.Subtree == nil {
+			b, err := arch.saveTree(node.tree)
 			if err != nil {
 				return Blob{}, err
 			}
 			node.Subtree = b.ID
-			arch.update(arch.SaveStats, Stats{Directories: 1})
+			arch.p.Report(Stat{Dirs: 1})
 		} else if node.Type == "file" && len(node.Content) == 0 {
 			// get token
 			token := <-arch.fileToken
@@ -478,15 +245,9 @@ func (arch *Archiver) saveTree(t *Tree) (Blob, error) {
 					arch.fileToken <- token
 				}()
 
-				// TODO: handle error
-				err := arch.SaveFile(n)
-				if err != nil {
-					panic(err)
-				}
-				arch.update(arch.SaveStats, Stats{Files: 1})
+				node.err = arch.SaveFile(n)
+				arch.p.Report(Stat{Files: 1})
 			}(node)
-		} else {
-			arch.update(arch.SaveStats, Stats{Other: 1})
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -494,9 +255,19 @@ func (arch *Archiver) saveTree(t *Tree) (Blob, error) {
 
 	// check for invalid file nodes
 	for _, node := range *t {
-		if node.Type == "file" && node.Content == nil {
+		if node.Type == "file" && node.Content == nil && node.err == nil {
 			return Blob{}, fmt.Errorf("node %v has empty content", node.Name)
 		}
+
+		if node.err != nil {
+			err := arch.Error(node.path, nil, node.err)
+			if err != nil {
+				return Blob{}, err
+			}
+
+			// save error message in node
+			node.Error = node.err.Error()
+		}
 	}
 
 	blob, err := arch.SaveJSON(backend.Tree, t)
@@ -508,8 +279,8 @@ func (arch *Archiver) saveTree(t *Tree) (Blob, error) {
 }
 
 func (arch *Archiver) Snapshot(dir string, t *Tree, parentSnapshot backend.ID) (*Snapshot, backend.ID, error) {
-	// reset global stats
-	arch.updateStats = Stats{}
+	arch.p.Start()
+	defer arch.p.Done()
 
 	sn, err := NewSnapshot(dir)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
index 03365635a..290938c26 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ func format_bytes(c uint64) string {
 	}
 }
 
-func format_duration(sec uint64) string {
+func format_seconds(sec uint64) string {
 	hours := sec / 3600
 	sec -= hours * 3600
 	min := sec / 60
@@ -52,11 +53,16 @@ func format_duration(sec uint64) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%d:%02d", min, sec)
 }
 
+func format_duration(d time.Duration) string {
+	sec := uint64(d / time.Second)
+	return format_seconds(sec)
+}
+
 func print_tree2(indent int, t *restic.Tree) {
 	for _, node := range *t {
-		if node.Tree != nil {
+		if node.Tree() != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("%s%s/\n", strings.Repeat("  ", indent), node.Name)
-			print_tree2(indent+1, node.Tree)
+			print_tree2(indent+1, node.Tree())
 		} else {
 			fmt.Printf("%s%s\n", strings.Repeat("  ", indent), node.Name)
 		}
@@ -89,27 +95,16 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Execute(args []string) error {
 		fmt.Printf("found parent snapshot %v\n", parentSnapshotID)
 	}
 
-	arch, err := restic.NewArchiver(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "err: %v\n", err)
-	}
-	arch.Error = func(dir string, fi os.FileInfo, err error) error {
-		// TODO: make ignoring errors configurable
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\nerror for %s: %v\n%v\n", dir, err, fi)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	fmt.Printf("scanning %s\n", target)
+	fmt.Printf("scan %s\n", target)
 
+	scanProgress := restic.NewProgress(time.Second)
 	if terminal.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
-		ch := make(chan restic.Stats, 20)
-		arch.ScannerStats = ch
-
-		go func(ch <-chan restic.Stats) {
-			for stats := range ch {
-				fmt.Printf("\r%6d directories, %6d files, %14s", stats.Directories, stats.Files, format_bytes(stats.Bytes))
-			}
-		}(ch)
+		scanProgress.F = func(s restic.Stat, d time.Duration, ticker bool) {
+			fmt.Printf("\x1b[2K\r[%s] %d directories, %d files, %s", format_duration(d), s.Dirs, s.Files, format_bytes(s.Bytes))
+		}
+		scanProgress.D = func(s restic.Stat, d time.Duration, ticker bool) {
+			fmt.Printf("\nDone in %s\n", format_duration(d))
+		}
 	}
 
 	// TODO: add filter
@@ -117,83 +112,86 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Execute(args []string) error {
 	// 	return true
 	// }
 
-	t, err := arch.LoadTree(target, parentSnapshotID)
+	sc := restic.NewScanner(scanProgress)
+
+	newTree, err := sc.Scan(target)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error: %v\n", err)
 		return err
 	}
 
-	fmt.Printf("\r%6d directories, %6d files, %14s\n", arch.Stats.Directories, arch.Stats.Files, format_bytes(arch.Stats.Bytes))
+	if parentSnapshotID != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("load old snapshot\n")
+		ch := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
+		sn, err := ch.LoadSnapshot(parentSnapshotID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		oldTree, err := restic.LoadTreeRecursive(filepath.Dir(sn.Dir), ch, sn.Tree)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		newTree.CopyFrom(oldTree)
+	}
+
+	archiveProgress := restic.NewProgress(time.Second)
+	targetStat := newTree.StatTodo()
 
-	stats := restic.Stats{}
-	start := time.Now()
 	if terminal.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
-		ch := make(chan restic.Stats, 20)
-		arch.SaveStats = ch
+		var bps, eta uint64
+		itemsTodo := targetStat.Files + targetStat.Dirs
 
-		ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Second)
-		var eta, bps uint64
-
-		go func(ch <-chan restic.Stats) {
-
-			status := func(sec uint64) {
-				fmt.Printf("\x1b[2K\r[%s] %3.2f%%  %s/s  %s / %s  ETA %s",
-					format_duration(sec),
-					float64(stats.Bytes)/float64(arch.Stats.Bytes)*100,
-					format_bytes(bps),
-					format_bytes(stats.Bytes), format_bytes(arch.Stats.Bytes),
-					format_duration(eta))
-			}
-
-			defer ticker.Stop()
-			for {
-				select {
-				case s, ok := <-ch:
-					if !ok {
-						return
-					}
-					stats.Files += s.Files
-					stats.Directories += s.Directories
-					stats.Other += s.Other
-					stats.Bytes += s.Bytes
-
-					status(uint64(time.Since(start) / time.Second))
-				case <-ticker.C:
-					sec := uint64(time.Since(start) / time.Second)
-					bps = stats.Bytes / sec
-
-					if bps > 0 {
-						eta = (arch.Stats.Bytes - stats.Bytes) / bps
-					}
-
-					status(sec)
+		archiveProgress.F = func(s restic.Stat, d time.Duration, ticker bool) {
+			sec := uint64(d / time.Second)
+			if targetStat.Bytes > 0 && sec > 0 && ticker {
+				bps = s.Bytes / sec
+				if bps > 0 {
+					eta = (targetStat.Bytes - s.Bytes) / bps
 				}
 			}
-		}(ch)
+
+			itemsDone := s.Files + s.Dirs
+			fmt.Printf("\x1b[2K\r[%s] %3.2f%%  %s/s  %s / %s  %d / %d items  ETA %s",
+				format_duration(d),
+				float64(s.Bytes)/float64(targetStat.Bytes)*100,
+				format_bytes(bps),
+				format_bytes(s.Bytes), format_bytes(targetStat.Bytes),
+				itemsDone, itemsTodo,
+				format_seconds(eta))
+		}
+
+		archiveProgress.D = func(s restic.Stat, d time.Duration, ticker bool) {
+			sec := uint64(d / time.Second)
+			fmt.Printf("\nduration: %s, %.2fMiB/s\n",
+				format_duration(d),
+				float64(targetStat.Bytes)/float64(sec)/(1<<20))
+		}
 	}
 
-	_, id, err := arch.Snapshot(target, t, parentSnapshotID)
+	arch, err := restic.NewArchiver(s, archiveProgress)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "err: %v\n", err)
+	}
+
+	arch.Error = func(dir string, fi os.FileInfo, err error) error {
+		// TODO: make ignoring errors configurable
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "\nerror for %s: %v\n", dir, err)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	_, id, err := arch.Snapshot(target, newTree, parentSnapshotID)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error: %v\n", err)
 	}
 
-	if terminal.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
-		// close channels so that the goroutines terminate
-		close(arch.SaveStats)
-		close(arch.ScannerStats)
-	}
-
 	plen, err := s.PrefixLength(backend.Snapshot)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	fmt.Printf("\nsnapshot %s saved\n", id[:plen])
-
-	sec := uint64(time.Since(start) / time.Second)
-	fmt.Printf("duration: %s, %.2fMiB/s\n",
-		format_duration(sec),
-		float64(arch.Stats.Bytes)/float64(sec)/(1<<20))
+	fmt.Printf("snapshot %s saved\n", id[:plen])
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_cat.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_cat.go
index 2ee657bc3..47acbe38e 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_cat.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_cat.go
@@ -53,10 +53,7 @@ func (cmd CmdCat) Execute(args []string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	ch, err := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	ch := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
 
 	switch tpe {
 	case "blob":
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go
index 55cec11be..544d5be28 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_find.go
@@ -113,11 +113,7 @@ func (c CmdFind) findInTree(ch *restic.ContentHandler, id backend.ID, path strin
 func (c CmdFind) findInSnapshot(s restic.Server, id backend.ID) error {
 	debug("searching in snapshot %s\n  for entries within [%s %s]", id, c.oldest, c.newest)
 
-	ch, err := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
+	ch := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
 	sn, err := ch.LoadSnapshot(id)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_fsck.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_fsck.go
index 44e8b307d..d349d96a2 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_fsck.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_fsck.go
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func fsckTree(opts CmdFsck, ch *restic.ContentHandler, id backend.ID) error {
 
 		switch node.Type {
 		case "file":
-			if node.Content == nil {
+			if node.Content == nil && node.Error == "" {
 				return fmt.Errorf("file node %q of tree %v has no content", node.Name, id)
 			}
 
@@ -125,10 +125,7 @@ func fsckTree(opts CmdFsck, ch *restic.ContentHandler, id backend.ID) error {
 func fsck_snapshot(opts CmdFsck, s restic.Server, id backend.ID) error {
 	debug("checking snapshot %v\n", id)
 
-	ch, err := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	ch := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
 
 	sn, err := ch.LoadSnapshot(id)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go
index e769ee456..037d6b488 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_ls.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func (cmd CmdLs) Execute(args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ch, err := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
+	ch := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_snapshots.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_snapshots.go
index 5432d29ae..1a1a7c25b 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_snapshots.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_snapshots.go
@@ -97,10 +97,7 @@ func (cmd CmdSnapshots) Execute(args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	ch, err := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	ch := restic.NewContentHandler(s)
 
 	tab := NewTable()
 	tab.Header = fmt.Sprintf("%-8s  %-19s  %-10s  %s", "ID", "Date", "Source", "Directory")
diff --git a/contenthandler.go b/contenthandler.go
index cba3dc833..7381178e8 100644
--- a/contenthandler.go
+++ b/contenthandler.go
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ type ContentHandler struct {
 }
 
 // NewContentHandler creates a new content handler.
-func NewContentHandler(s Server) (*ContentHandler, error) {
+func NewContentHandler(s Server) *ContentHandler {
 	ch := &ContentHandler{
 		s:  s,
 		bl: NewBlobList(),
 	}
 
-	return ch, nil
+	return ch
 }
 
 // LoadSnapshot adds all blobs from a snapshot into the content handler and returns the snapshot.
@@ -243,3 +243,8 @@ func (ch *ContentHandler) Test(t backend.Type, id backend.ID) (bool, error) {
 
 	return ch.s.Test(t, id)
 }
+
+// BlobList returns the current BlobList.
+func (ch *ContentHandler) BlobList() *BlobList {
+	return ch.bl
+}
diff --git a/progress.go b/progress.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..086b06a5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/progress.go
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+package restic
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+type Progress struct {
+	F   ProgressFunc
+	D   ProgressFunc
+	fnM sync.Mutex
+
+	cur    Stat
+	curM   sync.Mutex
+	start  time.Time
+	c      *time.Ticker
+	cancel chan struct{}
+	o      sync.Once
+	d      time.Duration
+
+	running bool
+}
+
+type Stat struct {
+	Files uint64
+	Dirs  uint64
+	Bytes uint64
+}
+
+type ProgressFunc func(s Stat, runtime time.Duration, ticker bool)
+
+// NewProgress returns a new progress reporter. After Start() has been called,
+// the function fn is called when new data arrives or at least every d
+// interval. The function doneFn is called when Done() is called. Both
+// functions F and D are called synchronously and can use shared state.
+func NewProgress(d time.Duration) *Progress {
+	return &Progress{d: d}
+}
+
+// Start runs resets and runs the progress reporter.
+func (p *Progress) Start() {
+	if p == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if p.running {
+		panic("truing to reset a running Progress")
+	}
+
+	p.o = sync.Once{}
+	p.cancel = make(chan struct{})
+	p.running = true
+	p.Reset()
+	p.start = time.Now()
+	p.c = time.NewTicker(p.d)
+
+	go p.reporter()
+}
+
+// Report adds the statistics from s to the current state and tries to report
+// the accumulated statistics via the feedback channel.
+func (p *Progress) Report(s Stat) {
+	if p == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !p.running {
+		panic("reporting in a non-running Progress")
+	}
+
+	p.curM.Lock()
+	p.cur.Add(s)
+	cur := p.cur
+	p.curM.Unlock()
+
+	// update progress
+	if p.F != nil {
+		p.fnM.Lock()
+		p.F(cur, time.Since(p.start), false)
+		p.fnM.Unlock()
+	}
+}
+
+func (p *Progress) reporter() {
+	if p == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-p.c.C:
+			p.curM.Lock()
+			cur := p.cur
+			p.curM.Unlock()
+
+			if p.F != nil {
+				p.fnM.Lock()
+				p.F(cur, time.Since(p.start), true)
+				p.fnM.Unlock()
+			}
+		case <-p.cancel:
+			p.c.Stop()
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Reset resets all statistic counters to zero.
+func (p *Progress) Reset() {
+	if p == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !p.running {
+		panic("resetting a non-running Progress")
+	}
+
+	p.curM.Lock()
+	p.cur = Stat{}
+	p.curM.Unlock()
+}
+
+// Done closes the progress report.
+func (p *Progress) Done() {
+	if p == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !p.running {
+		panic("Done() called on non-running Progress")
+	}
+
+	if p.running {
+		p.running = false
+		p.o.Do(func() {
+			close(p.cancel)
+		})
+
+		cur := p.cur
+
+		if p.D != nil {
+			p.fnM.Lock()
+			p.D(cur, time.Since(p.start), false)
+			p.fnM.Unlock()
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Current returns the current stat value.
+func (p *Progress) Current() Stat {
+	p.curM.Lock()
+	s := p.cur
+	p.curM.Unlock()
+
+	return s
+}
+
+// Add accumulates other into s.
+func (s *Stat) Add(other Stat) {
+	s.Bytes += other.Bytes
+	s.Dirs += other.Dirs
+	s.Files += other.Files
+}
+
+func (s Stat) String() string {
+	b := float64(s.Bytes)
+	var str string
+
+	switch {
+	case s.Bytes > 1<<40:
+		str = fmt.Sprintf("%.3f TiB", b/(1<<40))
+	case s.Bytes > 1<<30:
+		str = fmt.Sprintf("%.3f GiB", b/(1<<30))
+	case s.Bytes > 1<<20:
+		str = fmt.Sprintf("%.3f MiB", b/(1<<20))
+	case s.Bytes > 1<<10:
+		str = fmt.Sprintf("%.3f KiB", b/(1<<10))
+	default:
+		str = fmt.Sprintf("%dB", s.Bytes)
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Stat(%d files, %d dirs, %v)",
+		s.Files, s.Dirs, str)
+}
diff --git a/restorer.go b/restorer.go
index b57d83e77..c8d4b2d5b 100644
--- a/restorer.go
+++ b/restorer.go
@@ -25,10 +25,7 @@ func NewRestorer(s Server, snid backend.ID) (*Restorer, error) {
 	r := &Restorer{s: s}
 
 	var err error
-	r.ch, err = NewContentHandler(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "create contenthandler for restorer")
-	}
+	r.ch = NewContentHandler(s)
 
 	r.sn, err = r.ch.LoadSnapshot(snid)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/scanner.go b/scanner.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c90465d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scanner.go
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+package restic
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/juju/arrar"
+)
+
+type FilterFunc func(item string, fi os.FileInfo) bool
+type ErrorFunc func(dir string, fi os.FileInfo, err error) error
+
+type Scanner struct {
+	Error  ErrorFunc
+	Filter FilterFunc
+
+	p *Progress
+}
+
+func NewScanner(p *Progress) *Scanner {
+	sc := &Scanner{p: p}
+
+	// abort on all errors
+	sc.Error = func(s string, fi os.FileInfo, err error) error { return err }
+	// allow all files
+	sc.Filter = func(string, os.FileInfo) bool { return true }
+
+	return sc
+}
+
+func scan(filterFn FilterFunc, progress *Progress, dir string) (*Tree, error) {
+	var err error
+
+	// open and list path
+	fd, err := os.Open(dir)
+	defer fd.Close()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	entries, err := fd.Readdir(-1)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// build new tree
+	tree := Tree{}
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		path := filepath.Join(dir, entry.Name())
+
+		if !filterFn(path, entry) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		node, err := NodeFromFileInfo(path, entry)
+		if err != nil {
+			// TODO: error processing
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		err = tree.Insert(node)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		if entry.IsDir() {
+			// save all errors in node.err, sort out later
+			node.tree, node.err = scan(filterFn, progress, path)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, node := range tree {
+		if node.Type == "file" && node.Content != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		switch node.Type {
+		case "file":
+			progress.Report(Stat{Files: 1, Bytes: node.Size})
+		case "dir":
+			progress.Report(Stat{Dirs: 1})
+		}
+	}
+
+	return &tree, nil
+}
+
+func (sc *Scanner) Scan(path string) (*Tree, error) {
+	sc.p.Start()
+	defer sc.p.Done()
+
+	fi, err := os.Lstat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, arrar.Annotatef(err, "Lstat(%q)", path)
+	}
+
+	node, err := NodeFromFileInfo(path, fi)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "NodeFromFileInfo()")
+	}
+
+	if node.Type != "dir" {
+		t := &Tree{node}
+
+		sc.p.Report(Stat{Files: 1, Bytes: node.Size})
+
+		return t, nil
+	}
+
+	sc.p.Report(Stat{Dirs: 1})
+
+	node.tree, err = scan(sc.Filter, sc.p, path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, arrar.Annotate(err, "loadTree()")
+	}
+
+	return &Tree{node}, nil
+}
diff --git a/tree.go b/tree.go
index 306093621..7752e1d7c 100644
--- a/tree.go
+++ b/tree.go
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/user"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -37,9 +39,12 @@ type Node struct {
 	Content    []backend.ID `json:"content"`
 	Subtree    backend.ID   `json:"subtree,omitempty"`
 
-	Tree *Tree `json:"-"`
+	Error string `json:"error,omitempty"`
+
+	tree *Tree
 
 	path string
+	err  error
 }
 
 var (
@@ -91,11 +96,34 @@ func LoadTree(ch *ContentHandler, id backend.ID) (Tree, error) {
 	return tree, nil
 }
 
-// PopulateFrom copies subtrees and content from other when it hasn't changed.
-func (t Tree) PopulateFrom(other Tree) error {
+// LoadTreeRecursive loads the tree and all subtrees via ch.
+func LoadTreeRecursive(path string, ch *ContentHandler, id backend.ID) (Tree, error) {
+	// TODO: load subtrees in parallel
+	tree, err := LoadTree(ch, id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	for _, n := range tree {
+		n.path = filepath.Join(path, n.Name)
+		if n.Type == "dir" && n.Subtree != nil {
+			t, err := LoadTreeRecursive(n.path, ch, n.Subtree)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+
+			n.tree = &t
+		}
+	}
+
+	return tree, nil
+}
+
+// CopyFrom recursively copies all content from other to t.
+func (t Tree) CopyFrom(other Tree) {
 	for _, node := range t {
-		// only copy entries for files
-		if node.Type != "file" {
+		// only process files and dirs
+		if node.Type != "file" && node.Type != "dir" {
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -107,14 +135,32 @@ func (t Tree) PopulateFrom(other Tree) error {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		// compare content
-		if node.SameContent(oldNode) {
-			// copy Content
-			node.Content = oldNode.Content
+		if node.Type == "file" {
+			// compare content
+			if node.SameContent(oldNode) {
+				// copy Content
+				node.Content = oldNode.Content
+			}
+		} else {
+			// fill in all subtrees from old subtree
+			node.tree.CopyFrom(*oldNode.tree)
+
+			// check if tree has changed
+			if node.tree.Equals(*oldNode.tree) {
+				// if nothing has changed, copy subtree ID
+				node.Subtree = oldNode.Subtree
+			}
 		}
 	}
+}
 
-	return nil
+// Equals returns true if t and other have exactly the same nodes.
+func (t Tree) Equals(other Tree) bool {
+	if len(t) != len(other) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return reflect.DeepEqual(t, other)
 }
 
 func (t *Tree) Insert(node *Node) error {
@@ -150,6 +196,50 @@ func (t Tree) Find(name string) (*Node, error) {
 	return node, err
 }
 
+func (t Tree) Stat() Stat {
+	s := Stat{}
+	for _, n := range t {
+		switch n.Type {
+		case "file":
+			s.Files++
+			s.Bytes += n.Size
+		case "dir":
+			s.Dirs++
+			if n.tree != nil {
+				s.Add(n.tree.Stat())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return s
+}
+
+func (t Tree) StatTodo() Stat {
+	s := Stat{}
+	for _, n := range t {
+		switch n.Type {
+		case "file":
+			if n.Content == nil {
+				s.Files++
+				s.Bytes += n.Size
+			}
+		case "dir":
+			if n.Subtree == nil {
+				s.Dirs++
+				if n.tree != nil {
+					s.Add(n.tree.StatTodo())
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return s
+}
+
+func (node Node) Tree() *Tree {
+	return node.tree
+}
+
 func (node *Node) fill_extra(path string, fi os.FileInfo) (err error) {
 	stat, ok := fi.Sys().(*syscall.Stat_t)
 	if !ok {