diff --git a/layers/+distribution/spacemacs/packages.el b/layers/+distribution/spacemacs/packages.el
index 9798e4eec..021c589ab 100644
--- a/layers/+distribution/spacemacs/packages.el
+++ b/layers/+distribution/spacemacs/packages.el
@@ -1795,8 +1795,6 @@ Open junk file using helm, with `prefix-arg' search in junk files"
         (setq spaceline-window-numbers-unicode unicodep)
         (setq spaceline-workspace-numbers-unicode unicodep))
 
-      (defvar spacemacs-mode-line-new-version-lighterp t)
-
       (defpowerline spacemacs-powerline-new-version
         (propertize
          spacemacs-version-check-lighter
@@ -1812,8 +1810,7 @@ Open junk file using helm, with `prefix-arg' search in junk files"
                                (format (concat "Do you want to update to the newest "
                                                "version %s ?") spacemacs-new-version))
                               (progn
-                                (spacemacs/switch-to-version spacemacs-new-version)
-                                (setq spacemacs-mode-line-new-version-lighterp nil))
+                                (spacemacs/switch-to-version spacemacs-new-version))
                             (message "Update aborted."))))
                       map)))
 
@@ -1821,8 +1818,7 @@ Open junk file using helm, with `prefix-arg' search in junk files"
         (spacemacs-powerline-new-version
          (spacemacs/get-new-version-lighter-face
           spacemacs-version spacemacs-new-version))
-        :when (and spacemacs-new-version
-                   spacemacs-mode-line-new-version-lighterp))
+        :when spacemacs-new-version)
 
       (spaceline-spacemacs-theme '(new-version :when active))
       (spaceline-helm-mode t)