diff --git a/lib/utils/update-notifier.js b/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
index 0a19be94e62a4..1af948a2db45a 100644
--- a/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
+++ b/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const { resolve } = require('path')
 const isGlobalNpmUpdate = npm => {
   return npm.flatOptions.global &&
     ['install', 'update'].includes(npm.command) &&
-    npm.argv.includes('npm')
+    npm.argv.some(arg => /^npm(@|$)/.test(arg))
 }
 
 // update check frequency
diff --git a/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js b/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
index ad4d407728f93..9748a92a8ae7b 100644
--- a/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
+++ b/test/lib/utils/update-notifier.js
@@ -105,6 +105,16 @@ t.test('situations in which we do not notify', t => {
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
   })
 
+  t.test('do not suggest update if already updating with spec', async t => {
+    t.equal(await updateNotifier({
+      ...npm,
+      flatOptions: { ...flatOptions, global: true },
+      command: 'install',
+      argv: ['npm@latest'],
+    }), null)
+    t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, [], 'no requests for manifests')
+  })
+
   t.test('do not update if same as latest', async t => {
     t.equal(await updateNotifier(npm), null)
     t.strictSame(MANIFEST_REQUEST, ['npm@latest'], 'requested latest version')