diff --git a/aider/main.py b/aider/main.py
index db0d986e2..086fbaccd 100644
--- a/aider/main.py
+++ b/aider/main.py
@@ -353,6 +353,12 @@ def main(argv=None, input=None, output=None, force_git_root=None):
         version=f"%(prog)s {__version__}",
         help="Show the version number and exit",
     )
+    other_group.add_argument(
+        "--check-update",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Check for updates and return status in the exit code",
+        default=False,
+    )
     other_group.add_argument(
         "--apply",
         metavar="FILE",
@@ -472,6 +478,10 @@ def main(argv=None, input=None, output=None, force_git_root=None):
 
     check_version(io.tool_error)
 
+    if args.check_update:
+        update_available = check_version(lambda msg: None)
+        sys.exit(0 if not update_available else 1)
+
     if "VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE" in os.environ:
         args.pretty = False
         io.tool_output("VSCode terminal detected, pretty output has been disabled.")
diff --git a/aider/versioncheck.py b/aider/versioncheck.py
index 3c4ff2811..59a83f79c 100644
--- a/aider/versioncheck.py
+++ b/aider/versioncheck.py
@@ -13,14 +13,17 @@ def check_version(print_cmd):
         latest_version = data["info"]["version"]
         current_version = aider.__version__
 
-        if packaging.version.parse(latest_version) <= packaging.version.parse(current_version):
-            return
+        is_update_available = packaging.version.parse(latest_version) > packaging.version.parse(current_version)
 
-        print_cmd(f"Newer version v{latest_version} is available. To upgrade, run:")
-        py = sys.executable
-        print_cmd(f"{py} -m pip install --upgrade aider-chat")
+        if is_update_available:
+            print_cmd(f"Newer version v{latest_version} is available. To upgrade, run:")
+            py = sys.executable
+            print_cmd(f"{py} -m pip install --upgrade aider-chat")
+
+        return is_update_available
     except Exception as err:
         print_cmd(f"Error checking pypi for new version: {err}")
+        return False
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":