diff --git a/git-cliff/Cargo.toml b/git-cliff/Cargo.toml
index 58ff376..aaba03a 100644
--- a/git-cliff/Cargo.toml
+++ b/git-cliff/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,12 +16,15 @@ edition = "2021"
 name = "git-cliff-completions"
 path = "src/bin/completions.rs"
 
+[features]
+# check for new versions
+default = ["update-informer"]
+
 [dependencies]
 pretty_env_logger = "0.4.0"
 log = "0.4.14"
 dirs-next = "2.0.0"
 clap_complete = "3.1.1"
-update-informer = "0.5.0"
 
 [dependencies.git-cliff-core]
 version = "0.6.1" # managed by release.sh
@@ -31,5 +34,9 @@ path = "../git-cliff-core"
 version = "3.1.6"
 features = ["derive", "env", "wrap_help"]
 
+[dependencies.update-informer]
+version = "0.5.0"
+optional = true
+
 [dev-dependencies]
 pretty_assertions = "1.1.0"
diff --git a/git-cliff/src/lib.rs b/git-cliff/src/lib.rs
index b4b35de..82114a3 100644
--- a/git-cliff/src/lib.rs
+++ b/git-cliff/src/lib.rs
@@ -29,14 +29,18 @@ use std::fs::{
 	File,
 };
 use std::io;
-use update_informer::registry::Crates;
-use update_informer::Check;
 
 /// Checks for a new version on crates.io
+#[cfg(feature = "update-informer")]
 fn check_new_version() {
+	use update_informer::Check;
 	let pkg_name = env!("CARGO_PKG_NAME");
 	let pkg_version = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
-	let informer = update_informer::new(Crates, pkg_name, pkg_version);
+	let informer = update_informer::new(
+		update_informer::registry::Crates,
+		pkg_name,
+		pkg_version,
+	);
 	if let Some(new_version) = informer.check_version().ok().flatten() {
 		log::info!(
 			"A new version of {pkg_name} is available: v{pkg_version} -> \
@@ -48,6 +52,7 @@ fn check_new_version() {
 /// Runs `git-cliff`.
 pub fn run(mut args: Opt) -> Result<()> {
 	// Check if there is a new version available.
+	#[cfg(feature = "update-informer")]
 	check_new_version();
 
 	// Create the configuration file if init flag is given.