diff --git a/setup.rb b/setup.rb
index 81f6320ba493..d330dfb1b5e9 100644
--- a/setup.rb
+++ b/setup.rb
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 require "rubygems"
 require "rubygems/gem_runner"
 
+if Gem.disable_system_update_message
+  abort "ERROR: #{Gem.disable_system_update_message}"
+end
+
 Gem::CommandManager.instance.register_command :setup
 
 args = ARGV.clone