diff --git a/library/include/updater.h b/library/include/updater.h
index b8e578f..7cd9473 100644
--- a/library/include/updater.h
+++ b/library/include/updater.h
@@ -150,6 +150,11 @@ SHOREBIRD_EXPORT void shorebird_free_string(const char *c_string);
 
 SHOREBIRD_EXPORT void shorebird_free_update_result(struct UpdateResult *result);
 
+/**
+ * Check for an update.  Returns true if an update is available.
+ */
+SHOREBIRD_EXPORT bool shorebird_check_for_update(void);
+
 /**
  * Check for an update on the first non-null channel of:
  *   1. `c_channel`
diff --git a/library/src/c_api/mod.rs b/library/src/c_api/mod.rs
index 5c553a2..5d03ca7 100644
--- a/library/src/c_api/mod.rs
+++ b/library/src/c_api/mod.rs
@@ -274,6 +274,16 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn shorebird_free_update_result(result: *mut UpdateResult)
     }
 }
 
+/// Check for an update.  Returns true if an update is available.
+#[no_mangle]
+pub extern "C" fn shorebird_check_for_update() -> bool {
+    log_on_error(
+        || updater::check_for_downloadable_update(None),
+        "checking for update",
+        false,
+    )
+}
+
 /// Check for an update on the first non-null channel of:
 ///   1. `c_channel`
 ///   2. The channel specified in shorebird.yaml