diff --git a/kwin/src/kcm/breezydesktopeffectkcm.cpp b/kwin/src/kcm/breezydesktopeffectkcm.cpp
index 5a788da..ba90b4a 100644
--- a/kwin/src/kcm/breezydesktopeffectkcm.cpp
+++ b/kwin/src/kcm/breezydesktopeffectkcm.cpp
@@ -595,6 +595,14 @@ void BreezyDesktopEffectConfig::checkEffectLoaded() {
 
 void BreezyDesktopEffectConfig::checkForUpdates() {
 #ifdef BREEZY_DESKTOP_VERSION_STR
+    // Skip update check for system-wide installs (e.g. AUR) — the package
+    // manager handles updates there.  Scripted installs put the plugin under
+    // the user's home directory, so we use that as the heuristic.
+    const QString pluginPath = metaData().fileName();
+    const QString home = QDir::homePath();
+    if (!pluginPath.startsWith(home + QLatin1Char('/')))
+        return;
+
     if (!m_networkManager)
         m_networkManager = new QNetworkAccessManager(this);
 
diff --git a/ui/src/updatechecker.py b/ui/src/updatechecker.py
index 5545b39..0ff6f6a 100644
--- a/ui/src/updatechecker.py
+++ b/ui/src/updatechecker.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 import json
 import logging
+import os
+import sys
 import threading
 from urllib.request import urlopen, Request
 from urllib.error import URLError
@@ -28,6 +30,19 @@ logger = logging.getLogger('breezy_ui')
 GITHUB_RELEASES_URL = 'https://api.github.com/repos/wheaney/breezy-desktop/releases/latest'
 
 
+def _is_user_local_install():
+    """Return True if the app is running from a user-local installation.
+
+    Scripted installs put the binary under the user's home directory (e.g.
+    ~/.local/bin/breezydesktop).  System-wide package manager installs (e.g.
+    AUR) put the binary in a system path like /usr/bin and don't need a
+    version-update prompt because the package manager handles updates.
+    """
+    home = os.path.expanduser('~')
+    script_path = os.path.realpath(sys.argv[0])
+    return script_path.startswith(home + os.sep)
+
+
 def _parse_version(version_str):
     """Parse a version string like '2.8.10' or 'v2.8.9' into a tuple of ints."""
     v = version_str.strip().lstrip('v')
@@ -43,8 +58,12 @@ def check_for_update(current_version, callback):
 
     Calls callback(latest_version_str) on the calling thread's GLib main loop
     if a newer version is found, or callback(None) if no update is available
-    or if the check fails.
+    or if the check fails.  Does nothing (no callback) when not running from a
+    user-local installation (e.g. installed via AUR).
     """
+    if not _is_user_local_install():
+        return
+
     def _check():
         latest_version = None
         try: