diff --git a/src/component-index.js b/src/component-index.js
index 3a9042df06..b25b5ef94c 100644
--- a/src/component-index.js
+++ b/src/component-index.js
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ module.exports.components['views.elements.ImageView'] = require('./components/vi
 module.exports.components['views.elements.Spinner'] = require('./components/views/elements/Spinner');
 module.exports.components['views.globals.GuestWarningBar'] = require('./components/views/globals/GuestWarningBar');
 module.exports.components['views.globals.MatrixToolbar'] = require('./components/views/globals/MatrixToolbar');
+module.exports.components['views.globals.NewVersionBar'] = require('./components/views/globals/NewVersionBar');
 module.exports.components['views.login.VectorCustomServerDialog'] = require('./components/views/login/VectorCustomServerDialog');
 module.exports.components['views.login.VectorLoginFooter'] = require('./components/views/login/VectorLoginFooter');
 module.exports.components['views.login.VectorLoginHeader'] = require('./components/views/login/VectorLoginHeader');
diff --git a/src/components/views/globals/NewVersionBar.js b/src/components/views/globals/NewVersionBar.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..83dccf5d0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/globals/NewVersionBar.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+'use strict';
+
+var React = require('react');
+var sdk = require('matrix-react-sdk')
+
+module.exports = React.createClass({
+    displayName: 'NewVersionBar',
+
+    render: function() {
+        return (
+            <div className="mx_MatrixToolbar">
+                <img className="mx_MatrixToolbar_warning" src="img/warning.svg" width="24" height="23" alt="/!\"/>
+                <div>
+                    A new version of Vector is available. Refresh your browser.
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        );
+    }
+});
+
diff --git a/src/vector/index.js b/src/vector/index.js
index 9585f686da..1d845adf06 100644
--- a/src/vector/index.js
+++ b/src/vector/index.js
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ var sdk = require("matrix-react-sdk");
 sdk.loadSkin(require('../component-index'));
 var VectorConferenceHandler = require('../VectorConferenceHandler');
 var configJson = require("../../config.json");
+var UpdateChecker = require("./updater");
 
 var qs = require("querystring");
 
@@ -105,6 +106,10 @@ function onHashChange(ev) {
     routeUrl(window.location);
 }
 
+function onVersion(current, latest) {
+    window.matrixChat.onVersion(current, latest);
+}
+
 var loaded = false;
 var lastLoadedScreen = null;
 
@@ -138,6 +143,8 @@ window.onload = function() {
     if (!validBrowser) {
         return;
     }
+    UpdateChecker.setVersionListener(onVersion);
+    UpdateChecker.run();
     routeUrl(window.location);
     loaded = true;
     if (lastLoadedScreen) {
diff --git a/src/vector/updater.js b/src/vector/updater.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0daba7285d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vector/updater.js
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+var POKE_RATE_MS = 10 * 60 * 1000; // 10 min
+var currentVersion = null;
+var latestVersion = null;
+var listener = function(){}; // NOP
+
+module.exports = {
+    setVersionListener: function(fn) { // invoked with fn(currentVer, newVer)
+        listener = fn;
+    },
+
+    run: function() {
+        var req = new XMLHttpRequest();
+        req.addEventListener("load", function() {
+            if (!req.responseText) {
+                return;
+            }
+            var ver = req.responseText.trim();
+            if (!currentVersion) {
+                currentVersion = ver;
+                listener(currentVersion, currentVersion);
+            }
+
+            if (ver !== latestVersion) {
+                latestVersion = ver;
+                if (module.exports.hasNewVersion()) {
+                    console.log("Current=%s Latest=%s", currentVersion, latestVersion);
+                    listener(currentVersion, latestVersion);
+                }
+            }
+        });
+        req.open("GET", "version");
+        req.send(); // can't suppress 404s from being logged.
+
+        setTimeout(module.exports.run, POKE_RATE_MS);
+    },
+
+    getCurrentVersion: function() {
+        return currentVersion;
+    },
+
+    hasNewVersion: function() {
+        return currentVersion && latestVersion && (currentVersion !== latestVersion);
+    }
+};