diff --git a/unshackle/core/config.py b/unshackle/core/config.py
index 64cc788..4d51ba5 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/config.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/config.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class Config:
         self.tag: str = kwargs.get("tag") or ""
         self.tmdb_api_key: str = kwargs.get("tmdb_api_key") or ""
         self.update_checks: bool = kwargs.get("update_checks", True)
+        self.update_check_interval: int = kwargs.get("update_check_interval", 24)
 
     @classmethod
     def from_yaml(cls, path: Path) -> Config:
diff --git a/unshackle/core/update_checker.py b/unshackle/core/update_checker.py
index 671d8d6..15c2c2e 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/update_checker.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/update_checker.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
+import json
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
 
 import requests
@@ -11,6 +14,66 @@ class UpdateChecker:
 
     REPO_URL = "https://api.github.com/repos/unshackle-dl/unshackle/releases/latest"
     TIMEOUT = 5
+    DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL = 24 * 60 * 60  # 24 hours in seconds
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _get_cache_file(cls) -> Path:
+        """Get the path to the update check cache file."""
+        from unshackle.core.config import config
+
+        return config.directories.cache / "update_check.json"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _should_check_for_updates(cls, check_interval: int = DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if enough time has passed since the last update check.
+
+        Args:
+            check_interval: Time in seconds between checks (default: 24 hours)
+
+        Returns:
+            True if we should check for updates, False otherwise
+        """
+        cache_file = cls._get_cache_file()
+
+        if not cache_file.exists():
+            return True
+
+        try:
+            with open(cache_file, "r") as f:
+                cache_data = json.load(f)
+
+            last_check = cache_data.get("last_check", 0)
+            current_time = time.time()
+
+            return (current_time - last_check) >= check_interval
+
+        except (json.JSONDecodeError, KeyError, OSError):
+            # If cache is corrupted or unreadable, allow check
+            return True
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _update_cache(cls, latest_version: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
+        """
+        Update the cache file with the current timestamp and latest version.
+
+        Args:
+            latest_version: The latest version found, if any
+        """
+        cache_file = cls._get_cache_file()
+
+        try:
+            # Ensure cache directory exists
+            cache_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+            cache_data = {"last_check": time.time(), "latest_version": latest_version}
+
+            with open(cache_file, "w") as f:
+                json.dump(cache_data, f)
+
+        except (OSError, json.JSONEncodeError):
+            # Silently fail if we can't write cache
+            pass
 
     @staticmethod
     def _compare_versions(current: str, latest: str) -> bool:
@@ -75,32 +138,51 @@ class UpdateChecker:
         return None
 
     @classmethod
-    def check_for_updates_sync(cls, current_version: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    def check_for_updates_sync(cls, current_version: str, check_interval: Optional[int] = None) -> Optional[str]:
         """
-        Synchronous version of update check.
+        Synchronous version of update check with rate limiting.
 
         Args:
             current_version: The current version string (e.g., "1.1.0")
+            check_interval: Time in seconds between checks (default: from config)
 
         Returns:
             The latest version string if an update is available, None otherwise
         """
+        # Use config value if not specified
+        if check_interval is None:
+            from unshackle.core.config import config
+
+            check_interval = config.update_check_interval * 60 * 60  # Convert hours to seconds
+
+        # Check if we should skip this check due to rate limiting
+        if not cls._should_check_for_updates(check_interval):
+            return None
+
         try:
             response = requests.get(cls.REPO_URL, timeout=cls.TIMEOUT)
 
             if response.status_code != 200:
+                # Update cache even on failure to prevent rapid retries
+                cls._update_cache()
                 return None
 
             data = response.json()
             latest_version = data.get("tag_name", "").lstrip("v")
 
             if not latest_version:
+                cls._update_cache()
                 return None
 
+            # Update cache with the latest version info
+            cls._update_cache(latest_version)
+
             if cls._compare_versions(current_version, latest_version):
                 return latest_version
 
         except Exception:
+            # Update cache even on exception to prevent rapid retries
+            cls._update_cache()
             pass
 
         return None
diff --git a/unshackle/unshackle.yaml b/unshackle/unshackle.yaml
index c15c7c0..94621d5 100644
--- a/unshackle/unshackle.yaml
+++ b/unshackle/unshackle.yaml
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ set_terminal_bg: false
 # Check for updates from GitHub repository on startup (default: true)
 update_checks: true
 
+# How often to check for updates, in hours (default: 24)
+update_check_interval: 24
+
 # Muxing configuration
 muxing:
   set_title: false