diff --git a/src/Worker.cs b/src/Worker.cs
index e11b501c..7764e867 100644
--- a/src/Worker.cs
+++ b/src/Worker.cs
@@ -79,9 +79,13 @@ public async static Task Main(string[] args)
                     }
                 });
 
+            // This must be done before the first Runspace is created, to avoid the creation of a thread by the upgrade checker
+            SetVersionUpgradeOptOut();
+
             // Create the very first Runspace so the debugger has the target to attach to.
             // This PowerShell instance is shared by the first PowerShellManager instance created in the pool,
             // and the dependency manager (used to download dependent modules if needed).
+
             var firstPowerShellInstance = Utils.NewPwshInstance();
             var pwshVersion = Utils.GetPowerShellVersion(firstPowerShellInstance);
             LogPowerShellVersion(pwshVersion);
@@ -101,6 +105,15 @@ public async static Task Main(string[] args)
             await requestProcessor.ProcessRequestLoop();
         }
 
+        private static void SetVersionUpgradeOptOut()
+        {
+            string checkForUpgrade = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZUREPS_CHECK_FOR_UPGRADE");
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(checkForUpgrade))
+            {
+                Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("AZUREPS_CHECK_FOR_UPGRADE", "False");
+            }
+        }
+
         // Warm up the PowerShell instance so that the subsequent function load and invocation requests are faster
         private static void WarmUpPowerShell(System.Management.Automation.PowerShell firstPowerShellInstance)
         {