diff --git a/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.h b/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.h
index 799d7dc6f1..2d72e711d5 100644
--- a/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.h
+++ b/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.h
@@ -159,7 +159,29 @@ typedef enum {
 @property (nonatomic, assign, getter=isUpdateUIEnabled) BOOL updateUIEnabled;
 
 
-// manually start an update check
+///-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// @name Tests
+///-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ Define the simulated new version avaialble from the App Store
+ 
+ Set the version string that should be used for a simulated new version being available
+ in the App Store.
+ 
+ *Default*: _NIL_
+ 
+ @warning This property is autoamtically disabled if accidentally being invoked in an
+ App Store build.
+ @see updateSetting
+ */
+@property (nonatomic, strong) NSString *simulatedNewStoreVersion;
+
+
+///-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// @name Manual update checking
+///-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 /**
  Check for an update
  
diff --git a/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.m b/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.m
index 7d2c940aaa..f7075024c6 100644
--- a/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.m
+++ b/Classes/BITStoreUpdateManager.m
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@
     _appStoreURL = nil;
     _currentUUID = [[self executableUUID] copy];
     _countryCode = nil;
+    _simulatedNewStoreVersion = nil;
     
     _mainBundle = [NSBundle mainBundle];
     _currentLocale = [NSLocale currentLocale];
@@ -237,6 +238,7 @@
 #pragma mark - Private
 
 - (BOOL)shouldCancelProcessing {
+  if (self.simulatedNewStoreVersion) return NO;
   if (![self isAppStoreEnvironment]) return YES;
   if (![self isStoreUpdateManagerEnabled]) return YES;
   return NO;
@@ -260,6 +262,13 @@
   self.lastCheck = [NSDate date];
   
   self.updateAvailable = [self hasNewVersion:json];
+  
+  if (self.simulatedNewStoreVersion) {
+    self.updateAvailable = YES;
+    _lastCheckFailed = NO;
+    _newStoreVersion = self.simulatedNewStoreVersion;
+  }
+  
   BITHockeyLog(@"INFO: Update available: %i", self.updateAvailable);
   
   if (_lastCheckFailed) {
@@ -405,6 +414,14 @@
   }
 }
 
+- (void)setSimulatedNewStoreVersion:(NSString *)aSimulatedNewStoreVersion {
+  if ([self isAppStoreEnvironment]) return;
+  
+  if (_simulatedNewStoreVersion != aSimulatedNewStoreVersion) {
+    _simulatedNewStoreVersion = [aSimulatedNewStoreVersion copy];
+  }
+}
+
 
 #pragma mark - UIAlertViewDelegate
 
@@ -424,6 +441,8 @@
     
     if (_appStoreURL) {
       [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString:_appStoreURL]];
+    } else {
+      BITHockeyLog(@"WARNING: The app store page couldn't be opened, since we did not get a valid URL from the store API.");
     }
   }
 }