diff --git a/tools/commands-packages.js b/tools/commands-packages.js
index 0076c5d2e9..60c56ebeef 100644
--- a/tools/commands-packages.js
+++ b/tools/commands-packages.js
@@ -1403,6 +1403,14 @@ main.registerCommand({
           "You are at the latest patch version.\n");
         return 1;
       }
+      var patchRecord = doOrDie(function () {
+        return catalog.official.getReleaseVersion(r[0], updateTo);
+      });
+      if (!patchRecord || !patchRecord.recommended) {
+        process.stderr.write(
+          "You are at the latest patch version.\n");
+        return 1;
+      }
       releaseVersionsToTry = [updateTo];
     } else if (release.forced) {
       doOrDie(function () {
diff --git a/tools/updater.js b/tools/updater.js
index acd61f949b..ed81984639 100644
--- a/tools/updater.js
+++ b/tools/updater.js
@@ -104,11 +104,14 @@ var maybeShowBanners = function () {
   var track = release.current.getReleaseTrack();
   var patchReleaseVersion = releaseData.patchReleaseVersion;
   if (patchReleaseVersion) {
-    runLog.log("=> A patch (" +
-               utils.displayRelease(track, patchReleaseVersion) +
-               ") for your current release is available!");
-    runLog.log("   Update this project now with 'meteor update --patch'.");
-    return;
+    var patchRelease = catalog.official.getReleaseVersion(track, patchRelease);
+    if (patchRelease && patchRelease.recommended) {
+      runLog.log("=> A patch (" +
+                 utils.displayRelease(track, patchReleaseVersion) +
+                 ") for your current release is available!");
+      runLog.log("   Update this project now with 'meteor update --patch'.");
+      return;
+    }
   }
 
   // There's no patch (so no urgent exclamation!) but there may be something