diff --git a/config/common.mk b/config/common.mk
index b83b994c..bd0cc817 100644
--- a/config/common.mk
+++ b/config/common.mk
@@ -315,6 +315,9 @@ ifneq ($(PRODUCT_DEFAULT_DEV_CERTIFICATE),build/target/product/security/testkey)
 endif
 endif
 
+# by default, do not update the recovery with system updates
+PRODUCT_PROPERTY_OVERRIDES += persist.sys.recovery_update=false
+
 PRODUCT_PROPERTY_OVERRIDES += \
   ro.cm.display.version=$(CM_DISPLAY_VERSION)