diff --git a/openlp.pyw b/openlp.pyw
index 4741059d2..78e10e74a 100755
--- a/openlp.pyw
+++ b/openlp.pyw
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class OpenLP(QtGui.QApplication):
             # now kill the splashscreen
             self.splash.finish(self.mainWindow)
         self.mainWindow.repaint()
-        self.mainWindow.versionCheck()
+        self.mainWindow.versionThread()
         return self.exec_()
 
 def main():
diff --git a/openlp/core/ui/mainwindow.py b/openlp/core/ui/mainwindow.py
index 226c629e8..a17ee7d5a 100644
--- a/openlp/core/ui/mainwindow.py
+++ b/openlp/core/ui/mainwindow.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 import os
 import logging
+import time
 
 from PyQt4 import QtCore, QtGui
 
@@ -50,6 +51,15 @@ media_manager_style = """
     border-color: palette(light);
   }
 """
+class versionThread(QtCore.QThread):
+    def __init__(self, parent):
+        QtCore.QThread.__init__(self, parent)
+        self.parent = parent
+    def run (self):
+        time.sleep(5)
+        Receiver.send_message(u'version_check')
+
+
 class Ui_MainWindow(object):
     def setupUi(self, MainWindow):
         """
@@ -483,6 +493,8 @@ class MainWindow(QtGui.QMainWindow, Ui_MainWindow):
             QtCore.SIGNAL(u'triggered()'), self.onOptionsSettingsItemClicked)
         QtCore.QObject.connect(Receiver.get_receiver(),
             QtCore.SIGNAL(u'update_global_theme'), self.defaultThemeChanged)
+        QtCore.QObject.connect(Receiver.get_receiver(),
+            QtCore.SIGNAL(u'version_check'), self.versionCheck)
         QtCore.QObject.connect(self.FileNewItem,
             QtCore.SIGNAL(u'triggered()'),
             self.ServiceManagerContents.onNewService)
@@ -582,6 +594,10 @@ class MainWindow(QtGui.QMainWindow, Ui_MainWindow):
                 QtGui.QMessageBox.StandardButtons(QtGui.QMessageBox.Ok),
                 QtGui.QMessageBox.Ok)
 
+    def versionThread(self):
+        vT = versionThread(self)
+        vT.start()
+
     def onHelpAboutItemClicked(self):
         """
         Show the About form
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index d490f5631..a41b1ed7a 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.9.0-698
+1.9.0-697