diff --git a/api/Sources/Api/PairQL/MacApp/Resolvers/LatestAppVersion.swift b/api/Sources/Api/PairQL/MacApp/Resolvers/LatestAppVersion.swift
index 44c1edfd..0f4e67c9 100644
--- a/api/Sources/Api/PairQL/MacApp/Resolvers/LatestAppVersion.swift
+++ b/api/Sources/Api/PairQL/MacApp/Resolvers/LatestAppVersion.swift
@@ -12,15 +12,23 @@ extension LatestAppVersion: Resolver {
     let current = Semver(input.currentVersion)!
     var output = Output(semver: releases.first?.semver ?? "0.0.0")
 
+    // if they're on a beta/canary version ahead of their app release channel
+    // don't tell them there's an update to an older version
+    // this allows me to release "beta" versions to new customers without
+    // bothering existing users with an update
+    if current > Semver(output.semver)! {
+      output.semver = current.string
+    }
+
     for release in releases {
-      output.semver = release.semver
-      if current < Semver(release.semver)!,
-         let pace = release.requirementPace,
-         output.pace == nil {
-        output.pace = .init(
-          nagOn: release.createdAt.advanced(by: .days(pace)),
-          requireOn: release.createdAt.advanced(by: .days(pace * 2))
-        )
+      if current < Semver(release.semver)! {
+        output.semver = release.semver
+        if let pace = release.requirementPace, output.pace == nil {
+          output.pace = .init(
+            nagOn: release.createdAt.advanced(by: .days(pace)),
+            requireOn: release.createdAt.advanced(by: .days(pace * 2))
+          )
+        }
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/api/Tests/ApiTests/MacappPairResolvers/CheckInResolverTests.swift b/api/Tests/ApiTests/MacappPairResolvers/CheckInResolverTests.swift
index e317881f..abc73a67 100644
--- a/api/Tests/ApiTests/MacappPairResolvers/CheckInResolverTests.swift
+++ b/api/Tests/ApiTests/MacappPairResolvers/CheckInResolverTests.swift
@@ -94,6 +94,26 @@ final class CheckInResolverTests: ApiTestCase {
     )
     expect(output.keys.contains(.init(id: autoKey.id.rawValue, key: autoKey.key))).toBeTrue()
   }
+
+  func testOnBetaAheadOfStable() async throws {
+    try await createReleases([
+      Release("1.0.0", pace: 10, createdAt: .epoch),
+      Release("1.1.0", pace: 10, createdAt: .epoch.advanced(by: .days(10))),
+      Release("2.0.0", channel: .beta, pace: 10, createdAt: .epoch.advanced(by: .days(20))),
+    ])
+
+    let user = try await Entities.user().withDevice(adminDevice: {
+      $0.appReleaseChannel = .stable // set to stable, but they're on beta
+    })
+
+    let output = try await CheckIn.resolve(
+      with: .init(appVersion: "2.0.0", filterVersion: nil),
+      in: user.context
+    )
+
+    expect(output.updateReleaseChannel).toEqual(.stable)
+    expect(output.latestRelease.semver).toEqual("2.0.0")
+  }
 }
 
 // helpers