diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
index 41cad4f7..03973318 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 
 - Exposed `PI_SESSION_ID`, `PI_SESSION_FILE`, `PI_PROVIDER`, `PI_MODEL`, and `PI_REASONING_LEVEL` to commands run by built-in and factory-created bash tools.
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed explicit self-updates when `PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK` is set ([#6977](https://github.com/earendil-works/pi/issues/6977)).
+
 ## [0.81.1] - 2026-07-21
 
 ### New Features
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/utils/version-check.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/utils/version-check.ts
index a6a4f469..1a99a869 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/utils/version-check.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/utils/version-check.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export async function getLatestPiRelease(
 	currentVersion: string,
 	options: { timeoutMs?: number } = {},
 ): Promise<LatestPiRelease | undefined> {
-	if (process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK || process.env.PI_OFFLINE) return undefined;
+	if (process.env.PI_OFFLINE) return undefined;
 
 	const response = await fetch(LATEST_VERSION_URL, {
 		headers: {
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ export async function getLatestPiVersion(
 }
 
 export async function checkForNewPiVersion(currentVersion: string): Promise<LatestPiRelease | undefined> {
+	if (process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK) return undefined;
+
 	try {
 		const latestRelease = await getLatestPiRelease(currentVersion);
 		if (latestRelease && isNewerPackageVersion(latestRelease.version, currentVersion)) {
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
index 4158f3f0..eb6972bf 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
@@ -470,6 +470,32 @@ describe("package commands", () => {
 		}
 	});
 
+	it("allows explicit self-update checks when automatic version checks are disabled", async () => {
+		const previousSkipVersionCheck = process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK;
+		process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK = "1";
+		const fetchMock = vi.fn(async () => Response.json({ version: VERSION }));
+		vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+		const logSpy = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
+		const errorSpy = vi.spyOn(console, "error").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+		try {
+			await expect(runPackageCommandDirectly(["update", "--self"])).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+
+			expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+			expect(logSpy.mock.calls.map(([message]) => String(message)).join("\n")).toContain(
+				`pi is already up to date (v${VERSION})`,
+			);
+			expect(errorSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(process.exitCode).toBeUndefined();
+		} finally {
+			if (previousSkipVersionCheck === undefined) {
+				delete process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK;
+			} else {
+				process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK = previousSkipVersionCheck;
+			}
+		}
+	});
+
 	it("uses the update check version for forced self updates even when current", async () => {
 		const globalPrefix = join(tempDir, "global-prefix");
 		const projectPrefix = join(tempDir, "project-prefix");
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/version-check.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/version-check.test.ts
index b294c627..6e2f0ac4 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/version-check.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/version-check.test.ts
@@ -80,12 +80,21 @@ describe("version checks", () => {
 		await expect(getLatestPiRelease("1.2.3")).resolves.toEqual({ note: "**Read this**", version: "1.2.4" });
 	});
 
-	it("skips api calls when version checks are disabled", async () => {
+	it("skips automatic api calls when version checks are disabled", async () => {
 		process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK = "1";
 		const fetchMock = vi.fn();
 		vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
 
-		await expect(getLatestPiVersion("1.2.3")).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+		await expect(checkForNewPiVersion("1.2.3")).resolves.toBeUndefined();
 		expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 	});
+
+	it("allows direct api calls when automatic version checks are disabled", async () => {
+		process.env.PI_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK = "1";
+		const fetchMock = vi.fn(async () => Response.json({ version: "1.2.4" }));
+		vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+
+		await expect(getLatestPiVersion("1.2.3")).resolves.toBe("1.2.4");
+		expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+	});
 });