diff --git a/lib/cli.js b/lib/cli.js
index aba5e21c4d08a..d4a67645858ae 100644
--- a/lib/cli.js
+++ b/lib/cli.js
@@ -53,9 +53,7 @@ module.exports = (process) => {
       npm.config.set('usage', false, 'cli')
     }
 
-    updateNotifier(npm).then(notification => {
-      npm.updateNotification = notification
-    })
+    updateNotifier(npm)
 
     const cmd = npm.argv.shift()
     const impl = npm.commands[cmd]