diff --git a/app/Http/Middleware/CheckVersion.php b/app/Http/Middleware/CheckVersion.php
index ba66a79b2b2..a664734f51d 100644
--- a/app/Http/Middleware/CheckVersion.php
+++ b/app/Http/Middleware/CheckVersion.php
@@ -17,21 +17,23 @@ class CheckVersion
      */
     public function handle($request, Closure $next)
     {
-        $instance = Instance::first();
+        if (($version = config('monica.app_version')) !== '') {
+            $instance = Instance::first();
 
-        $appVersion = new Version(config('monica.app_version'));
-        $latestVersion = new Version($instance->latest_version ?? '0.0.0');
-        $currentVersion = new Version($instance->current_version ?? '0.0.0');
+            $appVersion = new Version($version);
+            $latestVersion = new Version($instance->latest_version ?? '0.0.0');
+            $currentVersion = new Version($instance->current_version ?? '0.0.0');
 
-        if ($latestVersion == $appVersion && $currentVersion != $latestVersion) {
+            if ($latestVersion == $appVersion && $currentVersion != $latestVersion) {
 
-            // The instance has been updated to the latest version. We reset
-            // the ping data.
+                // The instance has been updated to the latest version. We reset
+                // the ping data.
 
-            $instance->current_version = $instance->latest_version;
-            $instance->latest_release_notes = null;
-            $instance->number_of_versions_since_current_version = null;
-            $instance->save();
+                $instance->current_version = $instance->latest_version;
+                $instance->latest_release_notes = null;
+                $instance->number_of_versions_since_current_version = null;
+                $instance->save();
+            }
         }
 
         return $next($request);
diff --git a/resources/views/partials/check.blade.php b/resources/views/partials/check.blade.php
index 65402908762..8f08dceea7a 100644
--- a/resources/views/partials/check.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/partials/check.blade.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 @if (config('monica.check_version'))
 
-    @if (version_compare($instance->latest_version, config('monica.app_version')) > 0)
+    @if (($version = config('monica.app_version')) !== '' && version_compare($instance->latest_version, $version) > 0)
     <li>
         <a href="#showVersion" data-toggle="modal" class="badge badge-success">{{ trans('app.footer_new_version') }}</a>
     </li>
diff --git a/resources/views/partials/footer.blade.php b/resources/views/partials/footer.blade.php
index 7e10f64489f..3677b38cf0a 100644
--- a/resources/views/partials/footer.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/partials/footer.blade.php
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@
         <ul>
           <li class="di"><a href="https://monicahq.com/changelog" hreflang="en">{{ trans('app.footer_release') }}</a></li>
           <li class="di ml2"><a href="https://github.com/monicahq/monica">{{ trans('app.footer_source_code') }}</a></li>
-          <li class="di ml2">{{ trans('app.footer_version', ['version' => config('monica.app_version')]) }}</li>
+          @if (($version = config('monica.app_version')) !== '')
+            <li class="di ml2">{{ trans('app.footer_version', ['version' => $version]) }}</li>
+          @endif
 
           @include('partials.check')
         </ul>