diff --git a/dvc/command/base.py b/dvc/command/base.py
index 8c61423d2..9391418f9 100644
--- a/dvc/command/base.py
+++ b/dvc/command/base.py
@@ -33,17 +33,12 @@ class CmdBase(ABC):
 
     def __init__(self, args):
         from dvc.repo import Repo
-        from dvc.updater import Updater
 
         os.chdir(args.cd)
 
         self.repo = Repo(uninitialized=self.UNINITIALIZED)
         self.config = self.repo.config
         self.args = args
-        if self.repo.tmp_dir:
-            hardlink_lock = self.config["core"].get("hardlink_lock", False)
-            updater = Updater(self.repo.tmp_dir, hardlink_lock=hardlink_lock)
-            updater.check()
 
     def do_run(self):
         with self.repo:
diff --git a/dvc/command/version.py b/dvc/command/version.py
index 1154e380d..5fd70b786 100644
--- a/dvc/command/version.py
+++ b/dvc/command/version.py
@@ -10,9 +10,21 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class CmdVersion(CmdBaseNoRepo):
     def run(self):
         from dvc.info import get_dvc_info
+        from dvc.repo import NotDvcRepoError, Repo
 
         dvc_info = get_dvc_info()
         ui.write(dvc_info, force=True)
+
+        try:
+            with Repo() as repo:
+                from dvc.updater import Updater
+
+                hardlink_lock = repo.config["core"].get("hardlink_lock", False)
+                updater = Updater(repo.tmp_dir, hardlink_lock=hardlink_lock)
+                updater.check()
+        except NotDvcRepoError:
+            pass
+
         return 0