diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/version.ts b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/version.ts
index fecbe1c0e1886..93a0d8fb4b6b2 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/version.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/version.ts
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export async function latestVersionIfHigher(currentVersion: string, cacheFile: V
 }
 
 export async function displayVersionMessage(): Promise<void> {
-  if (!process.stdout.isTTY) {
+  if (!process.stdout.isTTY || process.env.AWS_CDK_DISABLE_VERSION_CHECK) {
     return;
   }