diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 75f6ced..661bfce 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ release: rnnoise
 
 	mkdir -p tmp/.local/bin/
 	go generate
-	CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=linux go build -a -ldflags '-s -w -extldflags "-static"' .
+	CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=linux go build -tags release -a -ldflags '-s -w -extldflags "-static"' .
 	upx noisetorch
 	mv noisetorch tmp/.local/bin/
 	cd tmp/; \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f89f89b..08761fa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -94,9 +94,6 @@ Install the Go compiler from [golang.org](https://golang.org/). And make sure yo
  make # build it
  ```
 
-If you build from source, it's recommended that you disable automatic update checks.  
-In `~/.config/noisetorch/config.toml` set `EnableUpdates = false`.
-
 ## Special thanks to
 
 * [xiph.org](https://xiph.org)/[Mozilla's](https://mozilla.org) excellent [RNNoise](https://jmvalin.ca/demo/rnnoise/).
diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index de16249..b45e829 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ const configFile = "config.toml"
 
 func initializeConfigIfNot() {
 	log.Println("Checking if config needs to be initialized")
-	conf := config{Threshold: 95, DisplayMonitorSources: false, EnableUpdates: true}
+	conf := config{Threshold: 95, DisplayMonitorSources: false, EnableUpdates: true} // if you're a package maintainer and you mess with this, we have a problem.
+	// Unless you set -tags release on the build the updater is *not* compiled in any. DO NOT MESS WITH THIS!
+	// This isn't and never was the proper location to disable the updater.
+
 	configdir := configDir()
 	ok, err := exists(configdir)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/update.go b/update.go
index 6b83406..aedf33c 100644
--- a/update.go
+++ b/update.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+// +build release
+
 package main
 
 import (
diff --git a/update_noop.go b/update_noop.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bdd7698
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update_noop.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+// +build !release
+
+package main
+
+import "errors"
+
+type updateui struct {
+	serverVersion string
+	available     bool
+	triggered     bool
+	updatingText  string
+}
+
+func updateCheck(ctx *ntcontext) {
+
+}
+
+func update(ctx *ntcontext) {
+
+}
+
+func fetchFile(file string) ([]byte, error) {
+	return make([]byte, 0), errors.New("Disabled by build flags")
+}
+
+func publickey() []byte {
+	return make([]byte, 0)
+}