A fold back ring for a swell packer is disclosed. A swell packer has a support member, a swellable element coupled to the support member, and a fold back ring coupled to the support member and engaging the swellable element. The fold back ring is sized and positioned such that when the swellable element swells, the fold back ring flexes outwardly and is caught between the swellable element and the interior surface of the well. The fold back ring therefore forms a barrier against extrusion of the swellable element.
