diff --git deluge/deluge/core/preferencesmanager.py deluge/deluge/core/preferencesmanager.py

index db9556acc..90f383141 100644

--- deluge/deluge/core/preferencesmanager.py

+++ deluge/deluge/core/preferencesmanager.py

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ DEFAULT_PREFS = {

     'path_chooser_accelerator_string': 'Tab',

     'path_chooser_max_popup_rows': 20,

     'path_chooser_show_hidden_files': False,

-    'new_release_check': True,

+    'new_release_check': False,

     'proxy': {

         'type': 0,

         'hostname': '',