diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e5ed9c0..2c703e7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ Set the `QUERY_PORT` environment variable to change the UDP port. If not set, it
 QUERY_PORT=27015
 ```
 
+This plugin automatically checks for updates using the github API. To disable this feature, set the `SOURCEQUERY_UPDATE_CHECK`
+environment variable to `false`.
+
+```bash
+SOURCEQUERY_UPDATE_CHECK=false
+```
+
 ## What it exposes
 
 - **A2S_INFO** - Server name, map, player count, max players, game version
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/infraly/sourcequery/SourceQueryPlugin.java b/src/main/java/com/infraly/sourcequery/SourceQueryPlugin.java
index be322f5..6d7c0b0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/infraly/sourcequery/SourceQueryPlugin.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/infraly/sourcequery/SourceQueryPlugin.java
@@ -49,7 +49,10 @@ protected void setup() {
             t.setDaemon(true);
             return t;
         });
-        scheduler.schedule(this::checkForUpdates, 30, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+
+        if (this.shouldCheckForUpdates()) {
+            scheduler.schedule(this::checkForUpdates, 30, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -74,6 +77,14 @@ private int resolveQueryPort() {
         return Options.getOptionSet().valuesOf(Options.BIND).getFirst().getPort() + 1;
     }
 
+    private boolean shouldCheckForUpdates() {
+        String env = System.getenv("SOURCEQUERY_UPDATE_CHECK");
+        if (env != null) {
+            return env.equalsIgnoreCase("true") || env.equalsIgnoreCase("1");
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
     private void checkForUpdates() {
         try {
             HttpClient client = HttpClient.newBuilder()