diff --git a/modules/update/update.fetch.inc b/modules/update/update.fetch.inc
index ee5d77b..3839c11 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.fetch.inc
+++ b/modules/update/update.fetch.inc
@@ -340,7 +340,12 @@ function _update_cron_notify() {
         else {
           $target_language = $default_language;
         }
-        drupal_mail('update', 'status_notify', $target, $target_language, $params);
+        $message = drupal_mail('update', 'status_notify', $target, $target_language, $params);
+        // Track when the last mail was successfully sent to avoid sending
+        // too many e-mails.
+        if ($message['result']) {
+          variable_set('update_last_email_notification', REQUEST_TIME);
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/modules/update/update.install b/modules/update/update.install
index 70fb6c3..70d3154 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.install
+++ b/modules/update/update.install
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ function update_uninstall() {
     'update_check_frequency',
     'update_fetch_url',
     'update_last_check',
+    'update_last_email_notification',
     'update_notification_threshold',
     'update_notify_emails',
     'update_max_fetch_attempts',
diff --git a/modules/update/update.module b/modules/update/update.module
index bf8b068..d38b64d 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.module
+++ b/modules/update/update.module
@@ -301,6 +301,12 @@ function update_cron() {
     // missing data, and if so, try to fetch the data.
     update_get_available(TRUE);
   }
+  if ((REQUEST_TIME - variable_get('update_last_email_notification', 0)) > $interval) {
+    // If configured time between notifications elapsed, send email about
+    // updates possibly available.
+    module_load_include('inc', 'update', 'update.fetch');
+    _update_cron_notify();
+  }
 
   // Clear garbage from disk.
   update_clear_update_disk_cache();