diff --git a/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py b/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
index 5ffa8f94c8..1a590df62f 100755
--- a/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
+++ b/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
@@ -315,23 +315,24 @@ def thermald_thread():
     update_failed_count = params.get("UpdateFailedCount")
     update_failed_count = 0 if update_failed_count is None else int(update_failed_count)
 
-    if dt.days > DAYS_NO_CONNECTIVITY_MAX and update_failed_count > 1:
-      if current_connectivity_alert != "expired":
-        current_connectivity_alert = "expired"
-        params.delete("Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt")
-        put_nonblocking("Offroad_ConnectivityNeeded", json.dumps(OFFROAD_ALERTS["Offroad_ConnectivityNeeded"]))
-    elif dt.days > DAYS_NO_CONNECTIVITY_PROMPT:
-      remaining_time = str(max(DAYS_NO_CONNECTIVITY_MAX - dt.days, 0))
-      if current_connectivity_alert != "prompt" + remaining_time:
-        current_connectivity_alert = "prompt" + remaining_time
-        alert_connectivity_prompt = copy.copy(OFFROAD_ALERTS["Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt"])
-        alert_connectivity_prompt["text"] += remaining_time + " days."
+    if params.get("DisableUpdates") is None:
+      if dt.days > DAYS_NO_CONNECTIVITY_MAX and update_failed_count > 1:
+        if current_connectivity_alert != "expired":
+          current_connectivity_alert = "expired"
+          params.delete("Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt")
+          put_nonblocking("Offroad_ConnectivityNeeded", json.dumps(OFFROAD_ALERTS["Offroad_ConnectivityNeeded"]))
+      elif dt.days > DAYS_NO_CONNECTIVITY_PROMPT:
+        remaining_time = str(max(DAYS_NO_CONNECTIVITY_MAX - dt.days, 0))
+        if current_connectivity_alert != "prompt" + remaining_time:
+          current_connectivity_alert = "prompt" + remaining_time
+          alert_connectivity_prompt = copy.copy(OFFROAD_ALERTS["Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt"])
+          alert_connectivity_prompt["text"] += remaining_time + " days."
+          params.delete("Offroad_ConnectivityNeeded")
+          put_nonblocking("Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt", json.dumps(alert_connectivity_prompt))
+      elif current_connectivity_alert is not None:
+        current_connectivity_alert = None
         params.delete("Offroad_ConnectivityNeeded")
-        put_nonblocking("Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt", json.dumps(alert_connectivity_prompt))
-    elif current_connectivity_alert is not None:
-      current_connectivity_alert = None
-      params.delete("Offroad_ConnectivityNeeded")
-      params.delete("Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt")
+        params.delete("Offroad_ConnectivityNeededPrompt")
 
     do_uninstall = params.get("DoUninstall") == b"1"
     accepted_terms = params.get("HasAcceptedTerms") == terms_version