diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2afbbff..1a9a933 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- Show if a new version is available in the web interface
+
 ## [v0.12.0] - 2020-04-03
 
 - Break upload page into pending/current/complete sections
diff --git a/dau.go b/dau.go
index 2536ad4..cc24c62 100644
--- a/dau.go
+++ b/dau.go
@@ -2,13 +2,10 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
-	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
-	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -54,7 +51,17 @@ func main() {
 	web := web.WebService{Config: config, Uploader: up}
 	web.StartWebServer()
 
-	go func() { checkUpdates() }()
+	go func() {
+		version.GetOnlineVersion()
+		if version.UpdateAvailable() {
+			fmt.Printf("You are currently on version %s, but version %s is available\n", version.CurrentVersion, version.LatestVersionInfo.TagName)
+			fmt.Println("----------- Release Info -----------")
+			fmt.Println(version.LatestVersionInfo.Body)
+			fmt.Println("------------------------------------")
+			fmt.Println("Upgrade at https://github.com/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/releases/latest")
+			daulog.SendLog(fmt.Sprintf("New version available: %s - download at https://github.com/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/releases/latest", version.LatestVersionInfo.TagName), daulog.LogTypeInfo)
+		}
+	}()
 
 	// create the watchers, restart them if config changes
 	// blocks forever
@@ -169,51 +176,6 @@ func (w *watch) checkFile(path string, found *[]string, exclusions []string) err
 	return nil
 }
 
-func checkUpdates() {
-
-	type GithubRelease struct {
-		HTMLURL string `json:"html_url"`
-		TagName string `json:"tag_name"`
-		Name    string `json:"name"`
-		Body    string `json:"body"`
-	}
-
-	daulog.SendLog("checking for new version", daulog.LogTypeInfo)
-
-	client := &http.Client{Timeout: time.Second * 5}
-	resp, err := client.Get("https://api.github.com/repos/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/releases/latest")
-	if err != nil {
-		daulog.SendLog(fmt.Sprintf("WARNING: Update check failed: %v", err), daulog.LogTypeError)
-		return
-	}
-	defer resp.Body.Close()
-	body, err := ioutil.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal("could not check read update response")
-	}
-
-	var latest GithubRelease
-	err = json.Unmarshal(body, &latest)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal("could not parse JSON: ", err)
-	}
-
-	// pre v0.11.0 version (ie before semver) did a simple string comparison,
-	// but since "0.10.0" < "v0.11.0" they should still get prompted to upgrade
-	// ok
-	if version.NewVersionAvailable(latest.TagName) {
-		fmt.Printf("You are currently on version %s, but version %s is available\n", version.CurrentVersion, latest.TagName)
-		fmt.Println("----------- Release Info -----------")
-		fmt.Println(latest.Body)
-		fmt.Println("------------------------------------")
-		fmt.Println("Upgrade at https://github.com/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/releases/latest")
-		daulog.SendLog(fmt.Sprintf("New version available: %s - download at https://github.com/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/releases/latest", latest.TagName), daulog.LogTypeInfo)
-	}
-
-	daulog.SendLog("already running latest version", daulog.LogTypeInfo)
-}
-
 func parseOptions() {
 	var versionFlag bool
 	flag.BoolVar(&versionFlag, "version", false, "show version")
diff --git a/version/version.go b/version/version.go
index ece417b..2e0d6aa 100644
--- a/version/version.go
+++ b/version/version.go
@@ -1,24 +1,47 @@
 package version
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"time"
+
+	daulog "github.com/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/log"
 
 	"golang.org/x/mod/semver"
 )
 
-const CurrentVersion string = "v0.12.0"
+const CurrentVersion string = "v0.12.1"
 
-func NewVersionAvailable(v string) bool {
+type GithubRelease struct {
+	HTMLURL string `json:"html_url"`
+	TagName string `json:"tag_name"`
+	Name    string `json:"name"`
+	Body    string `json:"body"`
+}
+
+var LatestVersion string
+var LatestVersionInfo GithubRelease
+
+// UpdateAvailable returns true or false, depending on whether not a new version is available.
+// It always returns false if the OnlineVersion has not yet been fetched.
+func UpdateAvailable() bool {
 	if !semver.IsValid(CurrentVersion) {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("my current version '%s' is not valid", CurrentVersion))
 	}
-	if !semver.IsValid(v) {
-		// maybe this should just be a warning
-		log.Printf("passed in version '%s' is not valid - assuming no new version", v)
+
+	if LatestVersion == "" {
 		return false
 	}
-	comp := semver.Compare(v, CurrentVersion)
+
+	if !semver.IsValid(LatestVersion) {
+		// maybe this should just be a warning
+		log.Printf("online version '%s' is not valid - assuming no new version", LatestVersion)
+		return false
+	}
+	comp := semver.Compare(LatestVersion, CurrentVersion)
 	if comp == 0 {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -27,3 +50,38 @@ func NewVersionAvailable(v string) bool {
 	}
 	return false // they are using a newer one than exists?
 }
+
+func GetOnlineVersion() {
+
+	daulog.SendLog("checking for new version", daulog.LogTypeInfo)
+	LatestVersion = "v0.12.0"
+	LatestVersionInfo = GithubRelease{
+		HTMLURL: "https://github.com/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/releases/tag/v0.13.0",
+		TagName: "v0.13.0",
+		Name:    "v0.13.0",
+		Body:    "- cool things\n-wow things\n",
+	}
+	return
+
+	client := &http.Client{Timeout: time.Second * 5}
+	resp, err := client.Get("https://api.github.com/repos/tardisx/discord-auto-upload/releases/latest")
+	if err != nil {
+		daulog.SendLog(fmt.Sprintf("WARNING: Update check failed: %v", err), daulog.LogTypeError)
+		return
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	body, err := ioutil.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal("could not check read update response")
+	}
+
+	var latest GithubRelease
+	err = json.Unmarshal(body, &latest)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal("could not parse JSON: ", err)
+	}
+
+	LatestVersion = latest.TagName
+	LatestVersionInfo = latest
+}
diff --git a/version/version_test.go b/version/version_test.go
index 0f78b41..b66233a 100644
--- a/version/version_test.go
+++ b/version/version_test.go
@@ -4,8 +4,18 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-func TestVersioning(t *testing.T) {
-	if !NewVersionAvailable("v1.0.0") {
-		t.Error("should be a version newer than v1.0.0")
+func TestVersioningUpdate(t *testing.T) {
+	// pretend there is a new version
+	LatestVersion = "v0.13.0"
+	if !UpdateAvailable() {
+		t.Error("should be a version newer than " + CurrentVersion)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestVersioningNoUpdate(t *testing.T) {
+	// pretend there is a new version
+	LatestVersion = "v0.12.1"
+	if UpdateAvailable() {
+		t.Error("should NOT be a version newer than " + CurrentVersion)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/web/data/wrapper.tmpl b/web/data/wrapper.tmpl
index d720b9a..1f9b0cb 100644
--- a/web/data/wrapper.tmpl
+++ b/web/data/wrapper.tmpl
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
        <a class="nav-link {{ if eq .Path "config.html"}} active {{ end }}" href="/config.html">Config</a>
        <a class="nav-link {{ if eq .Path "uploads.html"}} active {{ end }}" href="/uploads.html">Uploads</a>
        <a class="nav-link {{ if eq .Path "logs.html"}} active {{ end }}" href="/logs.html">Logs</a>
+       {{ if eq .NewVersionAvailable true }}
+       <a class="nav-link" href="{{ .NewVersionInfo.HTMLURL }}">Ver {{ .NewVersionInfo.TagName }} available!</a>
+       {{ end }}
+
      </nav>
    </div>
  </header>
diff --git a/web/server.go b/web/server.go
index 41a8a18..30ed2bc 100644
--- a/web/server.go
+++ b/web/server.go
@@ -74,12 +74,16 @@ func (ws *WebService) getStatic(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 
 		var b struct {
-			Body    string
-			Path    string
-			Version string
+			Body                string
+			Path                string
+			Version             string
+			NewVersionAvailable bool
+			NewVersionInfo      version.GithubRelease
 		}
 		b.Path = path
 		b.Version = version.CurrentVersion
+		b.NewVersionAvailable = version.UpdateAvailable()
+		b.NewVersionInfo = version.LatestVersionInfo
 
 		err = t.ExecuteTemplate(w, "layout", b)
 		if err != nil {