diff --git a/base/updates.zsh b/base/updates.zsh
index 152177f..d5bd594 100644
--- a/base/updates.zsh
+++ b/base/updates.zsh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if type git &> /dev/null; then
+if type git &> /dev/null && (( _zeesh_fresh_install != 1 )); then
     ticker_message "zeesh: pulling from git" # TODO: less frequently, and background
     start_dir="$(pwd)"
 
diff --git a/zshrc-stub b/zshrc-stub
index ec94238..465d111 100644
--- a/zshrc-stub
+++ b/zshrc-stub
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@ autoload -U colors && colors
 PROMPT="%{$fg[cyan]%}%n%{$fg[white]%}@%{$fg[magenta]%}%m %{$fg[white]%}%~ %# "
 RPROMPT="%{$fg_bold[black]%}%T%{$reset_color%}"
 
+_zeesh_fresh_install=0
+
 if [[ ! -d ~/.local/share/zeesh ]]; then
     if type git &> /dev/null; then
         printf "zeesh: installing"
         git clone git://vcs.lavacano.net/zeesh.git ~/.local/share/zeesh &> ~/zeesh-install.log
+        _zeesh_fresh_install=1
     else
         printf "zeesh: cannot install without git\n"
         return