diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index abce864e..1ec11c33 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ translate:
 
 android-release: android-apk-release
 
-android-apk-release: 
+android-apk-release:
 	flutter build apk --target-platform android-arm,android-arm64,android-x64 --split-per-abi --target $(TARGET)
 
 android-aab-release:
-	flutter build appbundle --target $(TARGET)
+	flutter build appbundle --target $(TARGET) --dart-define release=google-play
 
 windows-release:
 	flutter_distributor package --platform windows --targets exe --skip-clean --build-target $(TARGET)
diff --git a/lib/data/repository/app_repository_impl.dart b/lib/data/repository/app_repository_impl.dart
index ad937964..e599ac3f 100644
--- a/lib/data/repository/app_repository_impl.dart
+++ b/lib/data/repository/app_repository_impl.dart
@@ -22,20 +22,25 @@ class AppRepositoryImpl
       name: packageInfo.appName,
       version: packageInfo.version,
       buildNumber: packageInfo.buildNumber,
+      release: Release.read(),
       installerMedia: packageInfo.installerStore,
       operatingSystem: Platform.operatingSystem,
       environment: environment,
     );
   }
 
+  // TODO add market-specific update checking
   @override
   TaskEither<AppFailure, RemoteVersionInfo> getLatestVersion({
     bool includePreReleases = false,
+    Release release = Release.general,
   }) {
     return exceptionHandler(
       () async {
+        if (!release.allowCustomUpdateChecker) {
+          throw Exception("custom update checkers are not supported");
+        }
         final response = await dio.get<List>(Constants.githubReleasesApiUrl);
-
         if (response.statusCode != 200 || response.data == null) {
           loggy.warning("failed to fetch latest version info");
           return left(const AppFailure.unexpected());
diff --git a/lib/domain/app/app_info.dart b/lib/domain/app/app_info.dart
index db7e3233..2ab036a4 100644
--- a/lib/domain/app/app_info.dart
+++ b/lib/domain/app/app_info.dart
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class AppInfo with _$AppInfo {
     required String name,
     required String version,
     required String buildNumber,
+    required Release release,
     String? installerMedia,
     required String operatingSystem,
     required Environment environment,
diff --git a/lib/domain/environment.dart b/lib/domain/environment.dart
index c223ad53..27b5b4c1 100644
--- a/lib/domain/environment.dart
+++ b/lib/domain/environment.dart
@@ -1,4 +1,23 @@
+import 'package:dartx/dartx.dart';
+
 enum Environment {
   prod,
   dev;
 }
+
+enum Release {
+  general("general"),
+  googlePlay("google-play");
+
+  const Release(this.key);
+
+  final String key;
+
+  bool get allowCustomUpdateChecker => this == general;
+
+  static Release read() =>
+      Release.values.firstOrNullWhere(
+        (e) => e.key == const String.fromEnvironment("release"),
+      ) ??
+      Release.general;
+}
diff --git a/lib/features/about/view/about_page.dart b/lib/features/about/view/about_page.dart
index 0c327088..56f26f5c 100644
--- a/lib/features/about/view/about_page.dart
+++ b/lib/features/about/view/about_page.dart
@@ -88,19 +88,20 @@ class AboutPage extends HookConsumerWidget {
                     );
                   },
                 ),
-                ListTile(
-                  title: Text(t.about.checkForUpdate),
-                  trailing: appUpdate.isLoading
-                      ? const SizedBox(
-                          width: 24,
-                          height: 24,
-                          child: CircularProgressIndicator(),
-                        )
-                      : const Icon(Icons.update),
-                  onTap: () {
-                    ref.invalidate(appUpdateNotifierProvider);
-                  },
-                ),
+                if (appInfo.release.allowCustomUpdateChecker)
+                  ListTile(
+                    title: Text(t.about.checkForUpdate),
+                    trailing: appUpdate.isLoading
+                        ? const SizedBox(
+                            width: 24,
+                            height: 24,
+                            child: CircularProgressIndicator(),
+                          )
+                        : const Icon(Icons.update),
+                    onTap: () {
+                      ref.invalidate(appUpdateNotifierProvider);
+                    },
+                  ),
                 ListTile(
                   title: Text(t.settings.general.openWorkingDir),
                   trailing: const Icon(Icons.arrow_outward_outlined),
diff --git a/lib/features/common/app_update_notifier.dart b/lib/features/common/app_update_notifier.dart
index 5f4abd5b..39bb7e3b 100644
--- a/lib/features/common/app_update_notifier.dart
+++ b/lib/features/common/app_update_notifier.dart
@@ -11,7 +11,15 @@ class AppUpdateNotifier extends _$AppUpdateNotifier with AppLogger {
   @override
   Future<RemoteVersionInfo?> build() async {
     loggy.debug("checking for update");
-    final currentVersion = ref.watch(appInfoProvider).version;
+    final appInfo = ref.watch(appInfoProvider);
+    // TODO use market-specific update checkers
+    if (!appInfo.release.allowCustomUpdateChecker) {
+      loggy.debug(
+        "custom update checkers are not allowed for [${appInfo.release.name}] release",
+      );
+      return null;
+    }
+    final currentVersion = appInfo.version;
     return ref
         .watch(appRepositoryProvider)
         .getLatestVersion(includePreReleases: true)
@@ -27,7 +35,8 @@ class AppUpdateNotifier extends _$AppUpdateNotifier with AppLogger {
           return remote;
         }
         loggy.info(
-            "already using latest version[$currentVersion], remote: $remote");
+          "already using latest version[$currentVersion], remote: $remote",
+        );
         return null;
       },
     ).run();