diff --git a/packages/desktop-gui/cypress/integration/release_notes_spec.js b/packages/desktop-gui/cypress/integration/release_notes_spec.js
index c67d898413..2c6c68ddcb 100644
--- a/packages/desktop-gui/cypress/integration/release_notes_spec.js
+++ b/packages/desktop-gui/cypress/integration/release_notes_spec.js
@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ describe('Release Notes', () => {
     cy.contains('Update to Version 1.2.3').should('be.visible')
   })
 
+  it('shows update instructions if release notes does not include title or content', () => {
+    // if this hasn't been released on on.cypress.io yet, it will use the default redirect
+    // and not a 404 error, which returns an empty object
+    // also protects against the data not being correct in any case
+    getReleaseNotes.resolve({})
+    cy.get('.update-notice').contains('Learn more').click()
+    cy.contains('Update to Version 1.2.3').should('be.visible')
+  })
+
   it('shows update instructions if getting release notes errors', () => {
     getReleaseNotes.reject(new Error('something went wrong'))
     cy.get('.update-notice').contains('Learn more').click()
diff --git a/packages/desktop-gui/src/update/updates.js b/packages/desktop-gui/src/update/updates.js
index e000001ff0..37e77b4c26 100644
--- a/packages/desktop-gui/src/update/updates.js
+++ b/packages/desktop-gui/src/update/updates.js
@@ -42,10 +42,17 @@ export const getReleaseNotes = (version) => {
 
   ipc.getReleaseNotes(version)
   .then((releaseNotes) => {
+    if (!releaseNotes || !releaseNotes.title || !releaseNotes.content) {
+      updateStore.setReleaseNotes(undefined)
+      updateStore.setState(updateStore.SHOW_INSTRUCTIONS)
+
+      return
+    }
+
     updateStore.setReleaseNotes(releaseNotes)
-    updateStore.setState(releaseNotes ? updateStore.SHOW_RELEASE_NOTES : updateStore.SHOW_INSTRUCTIONS)
+    updateStore.setState(updateStore.SHOW_RELEASE_NOTES)
   })
-  .catch((err) => {
+  .catch(() => {
     updateStore.setReleaseNotes(undefined)
     updateStore.setState(updateStore.SHOW_INSTRUCTIONS)
   })