diff --git a/changedetectionio/flask_app.py b/changedetectionio/flask_app.py
index 25179a56..2f6be5c1 100644
--- a/changedetectionio/flask_app.py
+++ b/changedetectionio/flask_app.py
@@ -1625,7 +1625,7 @@ def changedetection_app(config=None, datastore_o=None):
     threading.Thread(target=notification_runner).start()
 
     # Check for new release version, but not when running in test/build or pytest
-    if not os.getenv("GITHUB_REF", False) and not config.get('disable_checkver') == True:
+    if not os.getenv("GITHUB_REF", False) and not strtobool(os.getenv('DISABLE_VERSION_CHECK', 'no')):
         threading.Thread(target=check_for_new_version).start()
 
     return app
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 298b3f12..57c413c5 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ services:
   #
   #        If you want to watch local files file:///path/to/file.txt (careful! security implications!)
   #      - ALLOW_FILE_URI=False
+  #
+  #        For complete privacy if you don't want to use the 'check version' / telemetry service
+  #      - DISABLE_VERSION_CHECK=true
   
       # Comment out ports: when using behind a reverse proxy , enable networks: etc.
       ports: