diff --git a/bcc.py b/bcc.py
index 89fe6d9..6d91287 100644
--- a/bcc.py
+++ b/bcc.py
@@ -1543,14 +1543,16 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         last = float(st.value("update/lastCheck", 0.0, type=float) or 0.0)
         if (time.time() - last) < 86400:  # at most once/day
             return
-        st.setValue("update/lastCheck", time.time())
         self._startup_update_worker = UpdateCheckWorker()
         self._startup_update_worker.done.connect(self._on_startup_update_checked)
         self._startup_update_worker.start()
 
     def _on_startup_update_checked(self, release: dict | None):
         self._startup_update_worker = None
-        if release and core.is_newer_version(core.__version__, release["version"]):
+        if release is None:
+            return  # offline/failed check: don't advance lastCheck, allow retry
+        QSettings("BCC", "BetterClaudeConfig").setValue("update/lastCheck", time.time())
+        if core.is_newer_version(core.__version__, release["version"]):
             self.status.setText(
                 f"Update available: {release['version']}  ·  Help ▸ About to view it."
             )