diff --git a/cli/lib/download/utils.js b/cli/lib/download/utils.js
index c1448c80f7..af63818e73 100644
--- a/cli/lib/download/utils.js
+++ b/cli/lib/download/utils.js
@@ -196,6 +196,10 @@ const logFailed = () => {
   log()
 }
 
+const logWarning = (text) => {
+  log(chalk.yellow(`! ${text}`))
+}
+
 function testVersion (version) {
   return writeVerifiedVersion(null)
     .then(runSmokeTest)
@@ -244,9 +248,10 @@ const verify = (options = {}) => {
     if (!installedVersion) {
       return explainAndFail(errors.missingApp)(new Error('Missing install'))
     } else if (installedVersion !== packageVersion) {
-      // TODO does this fail if we installed with CYPRESS_VERSION ?!
+      // warn if we installed with CYPRESS_VERSION or changed version
+      // in the package.json
       const msg = `Installed version (${installedVersion}) does not match package version (${packageVersion})`
-      return explainAndFail(errors.versionMismatch)(new Error(msg))
+      logWarning(msg)
     }
   })
   .then(() => {
diff --git a/cli/test/download/utils_spec.js b/cli/test/download/utils_spec.js
index 8ebbefcb78..42eea3f81b 100644
--- a/cli/test/download/utils_spec.js
+++ b/cli/test/download/utils_spec.js
@@ -206,14 +206,14 @@ describe('utils', function () {
       })
     })
 
-    it('logs error and exits when installed version does not match package version', function () {
+    it('logs warning when installed version does not match package version', function () {
       return utils.writeInstalledVersion('bloop')
       .then(() => {
         return utils.verify()
       })
       .then(() => {
-        expect(this.log).to.be.calledWith('Installed version does not match package version')
-        expect(process.exit).to.be.calledWith(1)
+        const warning = chalk.yellow('! Installed version (bloop) does not match package version (0.0.0)')
+        expect(this.log).to.be.calledWith(warning)
       })
     })