diff --git a/src/cron.js b/src/cron.js
index 4e17e28c6..b738f3607 100644
--- a/src/cron.js
+++ b/src/cron.js
@@ -201,12 +201,10 @@ function boxAutoupdatePatternChanged(pattern, tz) {
         cronTime: pattern,
         onTick: function() {
             var updateInfo = updateChecker.getUpdateInfo();
-            if (updateInfo.box) {
-                debug('Starting autoupdate to %j', updateInfo.box);
-                updater.updateToLatest({ skipBackup: false }, auditSource.CRON, NOOP_CALLBACK);
-            } else {
-                debug('No box auto updates available');
-            }
+            if (!updateInfo.box) return debug('No box auto updates available');
+            if (updateInfo.box.unstable) return debug('Will not auto-update to unstable release');
+            debug('Starting autoupdate to %j', updateInfo.box);
+            updater.updateToLatest({ skipBackup: false }, auditSource.CRON, NOOP_CALLBACK);
         },
         start: true,
         timeZone: tz