diff --git a/modules/update/update.module b/modules/update/update.module
index d5728be..2cbcc59 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.module
+++ b/modules/update/update.module
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ function update_help($path, $arg) {
  * Implements hook_init().
  */
 function update_init() {
-  if (arg(0) == 'admin' && user_access('administer site configuration')) {
+  if (arg(0) == 'admin' && user_access('administer site configuration') && variable_get('update_system_nofications', TRUE)) {
     switch ($_GET['q']) {
       // These pages don't need additional nagging.
       case 'admin/appearance/update':
diff --git a/modules/update/update.settings.inc b/modules/update/update.settings.inc
index 5cd2414..126c501 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.settings.inc
+++ b/modules/update/update.settings.inc
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ function update_settings($form) {
     '#default_value' => variable_get('update_check_disabled', FALSE),
   );
 
+  $form['update_system_nofications'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'checkbox',
+    '#title' => t('Enable Update module system notifications'),
+    '#default_value' => variable_get('update_system_nofications', TRUE),
+  );
+
   $notify_emails = variable_get('update_notify_emails', array());
   $form['update_notify_emails'] = array(
     '#type' => 'textarea',