diff --git a/plugins/other/pacman_pending_updates b/plugins/other/pacman_pending_updates
index 7a327995..00c2ecdb 100755
--- a/plugins/other/pacman_pending_updates
+++ b/plugins/other/pacman_pending_updates
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ EOM
 		;;
 
 	*)
-		updates="$(checkupdates)" || exit
+		updates="$(checkupdates)" || echo "updates.value U" && exit
 		if [ -n "$updates" ]; then
 			echo "updates.value $(echo "$updates" | wc -l)"
 			echo "updates.extinfo $(echo "$updates" | paste -s -d,)"