diff --git a/openlp.pyw b/openlp.pyw
index 017e12774..8d20080c9 100755
--- a/openlp.pyw
+++ b/openlp.pyw
@@ -194,7 +194,10 @@ class OpenLP(QtGui.QApplication):
             # now kill the splashscreen
             self.splash.finish(self.mainWindow)
         self.mainWindow.repaint()
-        VersionThread(self.mainWindow, app_version).start()
+        update_check = QtCore.QSettings().value(
+            u'general/update check', QtCore.QVariant(True)).toBool()
+        if update_check:
+            VersionThread(self.mainWindow, app_version).start()
         return self.exec_()
 
     def hookException(self, exctype, value, traceback):
@@ -280,4 +283,4 @@ if __name__ == u'__main__':
     """
     Instantiate and run the application.
     """
-    main()
\ No newline at end of file
+    main()
diff --git a/openlp/core/ui/generaltab.py b/openlp/core/ui/generaltab.py
index 773637481..edace883f 100644
--- a/openlp/core/ui/generaltab.py
+++ b/openlp/core/ui/generaltab.py
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ class GeneralTab(SettingsTab):
         self.showSplashCheckBox = QtGui.QCheckBox(self.startupGroupBox)
         self.showSplashCheckBox.setObjectName(u'showSplashCheckBox')
         self.startupLayout.addWidget(self.showSplashCheckBox)
+        self.checkForUpdatesCheckBox = QtGui.QCheckBox(self.startupGroupBox)
+        self.checkForUpdatesCheckBox.setObjectName(u'checkForUpdatesCheckBox')
+        self.startupLayout.addWidget(self.checkForUpdatesCheckBox)
         self.leftLayout.addWidget(self.startupGroupBox)
         self.settingsGroupBox = QtGui.QGroupBox(self.leftColumn)
         self.settingsGroupBox.setObjectName(u'settingsGroupBox')
@@ -249,6 +252,8 @@ class GeneralTab(SettingsTab):
             'Automatically open the last service'))
         self.showSplashCheckBox.setText(
             translate('OpenLP.GeneralTab', 'Show the splash screen'))
+        self.checkForUpdatesCheckBox.setText(
+            translate('OpenLP.GeneralTab', 'Check for updates to OpenLP'))
         self.settingsGroupBox.setTitle(
             translate('OpenLP.GeneralTab', 'Application Settings'))
         self.saveCheckServiceCheckBox.setText(translate('OpenLP.GeneralTab',
@@ -317,6 +322,8 @@ class GeneralTab(SettingsTab):
             QtCore.QVariant(False)).toBool())
         self.showSplashCheckBox.setChecked(settings.value(u'show splash',
             QtCore.QVariant(True)).toBool())
+        self.checkForUpdatesCheckBox.setChecked(settings.value(u'update check',
+            QtCore.QVariant(True)).toBool())
         self.autoPreviewCheckBox.setChecked(settings.value(u'auto preview',
             QtCore.QVariant(False)).toBool())
         self.timeoutSpinBox.setValue(settings.value(u'loop delay',
@@ -363,6 +370,8 @@ class GeneralTab(SettingsTab):
             QtCore.QVariant(self.autoOpenCheckBox.isChecked()))
         settings.setValue(u'show splash',
             QtCore.QVariant(self.showSplashCheckBox.isChecked()))
+        settings.setValue(u'update check',
+            QtCore.QVariant(self.checkForUpdatesCheckBox.isChecked()))
         settings.setValue(u'save prompt',
             QtCore.QVariant(self.saveCheckServiceCheckBox.isChecked()))
         settings.setValue(u'auto preview',