diff --git a/common/common.go b/common/common.go
index e07fa035..155331a0 100644
--- a/common/common.go
+++ b/common/common.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package common
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-github/v57/github"
 	"github.com/savioxavier/termlink"
@@ -45,15 +46,16 @@ func GithubClient() *github.Client {
 func CheckVersionUpdate() {
 	ghClient := GithubClient()
 	res, skip := VersionCheck(ghClient)
-	if skip {
+	if skip || res == nil || res.TagName == nil {
 		return
 	}
 
-	// Check if the version is different from the one in the binary
-	if res.TagName != nil && *res.TagName != fmt.Sprintf("v%s", VersionCli) {
-		if res.TagName != nil && *res.TagName != VersionCli {
-			fmt.Printf("A newer version (%s) is available, please upgrade with \"civo update\"\n", *res.TagName)
-		}
+	latest := *res.TagName
+	latestClean := strings.TrimPrefix(latest, "v")
+	currentClean := strings.TrimPrefix(VersionCli, "v")
+
+	if latestClean != currentClean {
+		fmt.Printf("A newer version (%s) is available, please upgrade with \"civo update\"\n", latest)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/common/common_test.go b/common/common_test.go
index e55725b3..0e75ad70 100644
--- a/common/common_test.go
+++ b/common/common_test.go
@@ -32,3 +32,19 @@ func TestVersionCheck(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 }
+
+func TestCheckVersionUpdate(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("nil release or tag safety", func(t *testing.T) {
+		oldCli := VersionCli
+		defer func() { VersionCli = oldCli }()
+
+		VersionCli = "1.0.0"
+
+		// Ensure calling with nil handling doesn't panic
+		res, skip := VersionCheck(github.NewClient(nil))
+		if skip && res == nil {
+			// Should return cleanly without panic
+			CheckVersionUpdate()
+		}
+	})
+}