diff --git a/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js b/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js
index dc1d161088..24a6cd7ad7 100644
--- a/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js
+++ b/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js
@@ -500,8 +500,12 @@ var runWebAppServer = function () {
         var program = {
           format: "web-program-pre1",
           manifest: manifest,
-          version: WebAppHashing.calculateClientHash(manifest, null, _.pick(
-            __meteor_runtime_config__, 'PUBLIC_SETTINGS')),
+          version: process.env.AUTOUPDATE_VERSION ||
+            WebAppHashing.calculateClientHash(
+              manifest,
+              null,
+              _.pick(__meteor_runtime_config__, "PUBLIC_SETTINGS")
+            ),
           cordovaCompatibilityVersions: clientJson.cordovaCompatibilityVersions,
           PUBLIC_SETTINGS: __meteor_runtime_config__.PUBLIC_SETTINGS
         };