diff --git a/qt/aqt/main.py b/qt/aqt/main.py
index 0f2764f66..c42a88402 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/main.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/main.py
@@ -1395,6 +1395,8 @@ title="{}" {}>{}</button>""".format(
     ##########################################################################

     def setupAutoUpdate(self) -> None:
+        # nixpkgs patch; updates are managed by nix
+        return
         import aqt.update

         self.autoUpdate = aqt.update.LatestVersionFinder(self)