diff --git a/src/pc/cliopts.c b/src/pc/cliopts.c
index 53f3358b..29aaf91c 100644
--- a/src/pc/cliopts.c
+++ b/src/pc/cliopts.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ static void print_help(void) {
     printf("--server PORT           Starts the game and creates a new server on PORT.\n");
     printf("--client IP PORT        Starts the game and joins an existing server.\n");
     printf("--playername PLAYERNAME Starts the game with a specific playername.\n");
+    printf("--skip-update-check     Skips the update check when loading the game.\n");
 }
 
 static inline int arg_string(const char *name, const char *value, char *target, int maxLength) {
@@ -80,6 +81,8 @@ bool parse_cli_opts(int argc, char* argv[]) {
             }
         } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--playername") && (i + 1) < argc) {
             arg_string("--playername", argv[++i], gCLIOpts.playerName, MAX_CONFIG_STRING);
+        } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--skip-update-check")) {
+            gCLIOpts.skipUpdateCheck = true;
         } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--help")) {
             print_help();
             return false;
diff --git a/src/pc/cliopts.h b/src/pc/cliopts.h
index 88d03ccb..98b1abfb 100644
--- a/src/pc/cliopts.h
+++ b/src/pc/cliopts.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ struct CLIOptions {
     char joinIp[IP_MAX_LEN];
     char playerName[MAX_CONFIG_STRING];
     bool hideLoadingScreen;
+    bool skipUpdateCheck;
 };
 
 extern struct CLIOptions gCLIOpts;
diff --git a/src/pc/pc_main.c b/src/pc/pc_main.c
index 1921aa2f..8c5139de 100644
--- a/src/pc/pc_main.c
+++ b/src/pc/pc_main.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ void* main_game_init(void* isThreaded) {
     enable_queued_dynos_packs();
     sync_objects_init_system();
 
-    if (gCLIOpts.network != NT_SERVER) {
+    if (gCLIOpts.network != NT_SERVER && !gCLIOpts.skipUpdateCheck) {
         check_for_updates();
     }