diff --git a/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.test.ts b/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.test.ts
index a7d52bb1ed..7c990e306a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.test.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,41 @@ describe("deriveUpdateStatus", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("reports an available update with a version", () => {
+    expect(
+      deriveUpdateStatus({
+        checking: false,
+        available: true,
+        availableVersion: "1.2.3",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      message: "Update 1.2.3 available",
+      type: "success",
+      checking: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("reports an available update without a version", () => {
+    expect(deriveUpdateStatus({ checking: false, available: true })).toEqual({
+      message: "Update available",
+      type: "success",
+      checking: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("reports a check error", () => {
+    expect(
+      deriveUpdateStatus({
+        checking: false,
+        error: "Update check timed out. Please try again.",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      message: "Update check timed out. Please try again.",
+      type: "error",
+      checking: false,
+    });
+  });
+
   it("clears checking when finished with no other signal", () => {
     expect(deriveUpdateStatus({ checking: false })).toEqual({
       checking: false,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.ts b/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.ts
index 835aeac770..611eaad3b5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/settings/updateStatus.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 export interface RawUpdateStatus {
   checking?: boolean;
   downloading?: boolean;
+  available?: boolean;
   upToDate?: boolean;
   updateReady?: boolean;
   version?: string;
+  availableVersion?: string;
+  error?: string;
 }
 
 export interface DerivedUpdateStatus {
@@ -34,6 +37,18 @@ export function deriveUpdateStatus(
       checking: false,
     };
   }
+  if (status.checking === false && status.available) {
+    return {
+      message: status.availableVersion
+        ? `Update ${status.availableVersion} available`
+        : "Update available",
+      type: "success",
+      checking: false,
+    };
+  }
+  if (status.checking === false && status.error) {
+    return { message: status.error, type: "error", checking: false };
+  }
   if (status.checking === false) {
     return { checking: false };
   }