diff --git a/core-modules/000QubesVm.py b/core-modules/000QubesVm.py
index c49e178e..df0180f8 100644
--- a/core-modules/000QubesVm.py
+++ b/core-modules/000QubesVm.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ from qubes.qubes import dry_run,vmm
 from qubes.qubes import register_qubes_vm_class
 from qubes.qubes import QubesVmCollection,QubesException,QubesHost,QubesVmLabels
 from qubes.qubes import defaults,system_path,vm_files,qubes_max_qid
+
 qmemman_present = False
 try:
     from qubes.qmemman_client import QMemmanClient
@@ -334,6 +335,11 @@ class QubesVm(object):
         if len(self.pcidevs) > 0:
             self.services['meminfo-writer'] = False
 
+        if 'xml_element' not in kwargs:
+            # New VM, disable updates check if requested for new VMs
+            if os.path.exists(qubes.qubesutils.UPDATES_DEFAULT_VM_DISABLE_FLAG):
+                self.services['qubes-update-check'] = False
+
         # Initialize VM image storage class
         self.storage = defaults["storage_class"](self)
         if hasattr(self, 'kernels_dir'):
diff --git a/core/qubesutils.py b/core/qubesutils.py
index b0da7a7c..041a66c8 100644
--- a/core/qubesutils.py
+++ b/core/qubesutils.py
@@ -844,8 +844,18 @@ class QubesWatch(object):
 ##### updates check #####
 
 UPDATES_DOM0_DISABLE_FLAG='/var/lib/qubes/updates/disable-updates'
+UPDATES_DEFAULT_VM_DISABLE_FLAG=\
+    '/var/lib/qubes/updates/vm-default-disable-updates'
 
 def updates_vms_toggle(qvm_collection, value):
+    # Flag for new VMs
+    if value:
+        if os.path.exists(UPDATES_DEFAULT_VM_DISABLE_FLAG):
+            os.unlink(UPDATES_DEFAULT_VM_DISABLE_FLAG)
+    else:
+        open(UPDATES_DEFAULT_VM_DISABLE_FLAG, "w").close()
+
+    # Change for existing VMs
     for vm in qvm_collection.values():
         if vm.qid == 0:
             continue
@@ -875,5 +885,16 @@ def updates_dom0_toggle(qvm_collection, value):
 def updates_dom0_status(qvm_collection):
     return not os.path.exists(UPDATES_DOM0_DISABLE_FLAG)
 
+def updates_vms_status(qvm_collection):
+    # default value:
+    status = not os.path.exists(UPDATES_DEFAULT_VM_DISABLE_FLAG)
+    # check if all the VMs uses the default value
+    for vm in qvm_collection.values():
+        if vm.qid == 0:
+            continue
+        if vm.services.get('qubes-update-check', True) != status:
+            # "mixed"
+            return None
+    return status
 
 # vim:sw=4:et:
diff --git a/qvm-tools/qubes-set-updates b/qvm-tools/qubes-set-updates
index feca2c85..c57a6ccb 100755
--- a/qvm-tools/qubes-set-updates
+++ b/qvm-tools/qubes-set-updates
@@ -27,15 +27,14 @@ import os
 import sys
 from qubes.qubes import QubesVmCollection
 from qubes.qubesutils import updates_vms_toggle,updates_dom0_toggle,\
-    updates_dom0_status
+    updates_dom0_status,updates_vms_status
 from qubes.qubes import vmm
 
 
 def main():
 
     usage = "%prog enable|disable|status\n"\
-            "  Enable or disable globally checking for updates (both dom0 and VM)"\
-            "  Status option checks only dom0 updates status"
+            "  Enable or disable globally checking for updates (both dom0 and VM)"
     parser = OptionParser (usage)
     parser.add_option("--offline-mode", dest="offline_mode",
                       action="store_true", default=False,
@@ -67,9 +66,16 @@ def main():
         updates_vms_toggle(qvm_collection, False)
     else:
         if updates_dom0_status(qvm_collection):
-            print "enabled"
+            print "dom0: enabled"
         else:
-            print "disabled"
+            print "dom0: disabled"
+        status_vms = updates_vms_status(qvm_collection)
+        if status_vms is None:
+            print "vms: mixed"
+        elif status_vms:
+            print "vms: enabled"
+        else:
+            print "vms: disabled"
 
     if action != 'status':
         qvm_collection.save()