diff --git a/docker/dev/django/start b/docker/dev/django/start
index 9b03c88b..8211b14d 100644
--- a/docker/dev/django/start
+++ b/docker/dev/django/start
@@ -17,4 +17,7 @@ touch /tmp/migrations_complete
 python manage.py setup_users
 python manage.py setup_oauth
 
+# Check for updates on startup instead of waiting for the next periodic run; never block boot on it
+python manage.py procrastinate defer check_for_updates || true
+
 exec python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:$INTERNAL_PORT
diff --git a/docker/prod/django/start b/docker/prod/django/start
index 71f0f0ca..bbd7caae 100644
--- a/docker/prod/django/start
+++ b/docker/prod/django/start
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ touch /tmp/migrations_complete
 python manage.py setup_users
 python manage.py setup_oauth
 
+# Check for updates on startup instead of waiting for the next periodic run; never block boot on it
+python manage.py procrastinate defer check_for_updates || true
+
 exec gunicorn WYGIWYH.wsgi:application --bind 0.0.0.0:$INTERNAL_PORT --timeout 600