diff --git a/src/Handler/SelfUpdateCommandHandler.php b/src/Handler/SelfUpdateCommandHandler.php
index 5c9d430..2ccb27b 100644
--- a/src/Handler/SelfUpdateCommandHandler.php
+++ b/src/Handler/SelfUpdateCommandHandler.php
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ public function handle(Args $args, IO $io)
         $updateStrategy->setPharName('puli.phar');
         $updateStrategy->setCurrentLocalVersion(PuliApplicationConfig::VERSION);
 
-        $updater = new Updater();
+        // false: disable signed releases, otherwise the updater will look for
+        // a *.pubkey file for the PHAR
+        $updater = new Updater(null, false);
         $updater->setStrategyObject($updateStrategy);
 
         if ($updater->update()) {