diff --git a/ct/vikunja.sh b/ct/vikunja.sh
index 596f45f88..f199e7721 100644
--- a/ct/vikunja.sh
+++ b/ct/vikunja.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function update_script() {
   fi
 
   RELEASE="$( [[ -f "$HOME/.vikunja" ]] && cat "$HOME/.vikunja" 2>/dev/null || [[ -f /opt/Vikunja_version ]] && cat /opt/Vikunja_version 2>/dev/null || true)"
-  if [[ "$RELEASE" == "unstable" ]] || { [[ -n "$RELEASE" ]] && dpkg --compare-versions "$RELEASE" lt "1.0.0"; }; then
+  if [[ -z "$RELEASE" ]] || [[ "$RELEASE" == "unstable" ]] || dpkg --compare-versions "${RELEASE:-0.0.0}" lt "1.0.0"; then
     msg_warn "You are upgrading from Vikunja '$RELEASE'."
     msg_warn "This requires MANUAL config changes in /etc/vikunja/config.yml."
     msg_warn "See: https://vikunja.io/changelog/whats-new-in-vikunja-1.0.0/#config-changes"