diff --git a/scripts/checkUpdates.sh b/scripts/checkUpdates.sh
index 69ca9f9..8a08b09 100755
--- a/scripts/checkUpdates.sh
+++ b/scripts/checkUpdates.sh
@@ -5,10 +5,18 @@ check_arch_updates() {
     echo "$result"
 }
 
+check_ubuntu_updates() {
+  result=$(apt-get -s -o Debug::NoLocking=true upgrade | grep -c ^Inst)
+  echo "$result"
+}
+
 case "$1" in
 -arch)
     check_arch_updates
     ;;
+-ubuntu)
+    check_ubuntu_updates
+    ;;
 *)
     echo "0"
     ;;