diff --git a/check_for_update.zsh b/check_for_update.zsh
index 4f349ff..80ac291 100755
--- a/check_for_update.zsh
+++ b/check_for_update.zsh
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ function update_dotfiles() {
 }
 
 () {
+
+  if [[ -n $DOTFILES_FORCEUPDATE ]]; then
+    update_dotfiles;
+    return;
+  fi
+
   emulate -L zsh
 
   local epoch_target mtime option LAST_EPOCH
diff --git a/functions.zsh b/functions.zsh
index ddad208..2c79dd6 100755
--- a/functions.zsh
+++ b/functions.zsh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 ## Selfupdate
 function dotfiles_selfupdate
 {
-    (. $DOTFILES/check_for_update.zsh && _upgrade_dotfiles)
+    (DOTFILES_FORCEUPDATE=1 source $DOTFILES/check_for_update.zsh || echo "[dotfiles_selfupdate] failed")
 }
 
 ## get cheat sheets for commands from cheat.sh. Usage: cheat commandname