diff --git a/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs b/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs
index bcb3933790..ee303003e7 100644
--- a/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs
+++ b/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ pub fn main() -> Result<()> {
         },
         ("install", Some(m)) => update(cfg, m)?,
         ("update", Some(m)) => update(cfg, m)?,
+        ("check", Some(_)) => check_updates(cfg)?,
         ("uninstall", Some(m)) => toolchain_remove(cfg, m)?,
         ("default", Some(m)) => default_(cfg, m)?,
         ("toolchain", Some(c)) => match c.subcommand() {
@@ -200,6 +201,10 @@ pub fn cli() -> App<'static, 'static> {
                         .takes_value(false),
                 ),
         )
+        .subcommand(
+            SubCommand::with_name("check")
+                .about("Check for updates to Rust toolchains")
+        )
         .subcommand(
             SubCommand::with_name("default")
                 .about("Set the default toolchain")
@@ -668,6 +673,48 @@ fn default_(cfg: &Cfg, m: &ArgMatches<'_>) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn check_updates(cfg: &Cfg) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut t = term2::stdout();
+    let channels = cfg.list_channels()?;
+
+    for channel in channels {
+        match channel {
+            (ref name, Ok(ref toolchain)) => {
+                let current_version = toolchain.show_version()?;
+                let dist_version = toolchain.show_dist_version()?;
+                let _ = t.attr(term2::Attr::Bold);
+                write!(t, "{} - ", name)?;
+                match (current_version, dist_version) {
+                    (None, None) => {
+                        let _ = t.fg(term2::color::BRIGHT_RED);
+                        writeln!(t, "Cannot identify installed or update versions")?;
+                    }
+                    (Some(cv), None) => {
+                        let _ = t.fg(term2::color::BRIGHT_GREEN);
+                        write!(t, "Up to date")?;
+                        let _ = t.reset();
+                        writeln!(t, " : {}", cv)?;
+                    }
+                    (Some(cv), Some(dv)) => {
+                        let _ = t.fg(term2::color::BRIGHT_YELLOW);
+                        write!(t, "Update available")?;
+                        let _ = t.reset();
+                        writeln!(t, " : {} -> {}", cv, dv)?;
+                    }
+                    (None, Some(dv)) => {
+                        let _ = t.fg(term2::color::BRIGHT_YELLOW);
+                        write!(t, "Update available")?;
+                        let _ = t.reset();
+                        writeln!(t, " : (Unknown version) -> {}", dv)?;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            (_, Err(err)) => return Err(err.into()),
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn update(cfg: &Cfg, m: &ArgMatches<'_>) -> Result<()> {
     let self_update = !m.is_present("no-self-update") && !self_update::NEVER_SELF_UPDATE;
     if let Some(names) = m.values_of("toolchain") {
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index d33d8fe1e8..bb065f9469 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -390,10 +390,7 @@ impl Cfg {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn update_all_channels(
-        &self,
-        force_update: bool,
-    ) -> Result<Vec<(String, Result<UpdateStatus>)>> {
+    pub fn list_channels(&self) -> Result<Vec<(String, Result<Toolchain<'_>>)>> {
         let toolchains = self.list_toolchains()?;
 
         // Convert the toolchain strings to Toolchain values
@@ -401,11 +398,20 @@ impl Cfg {
         let toolchains = toolchains.map(|n| (n.clone(), self.get_toolchain(&n, true)));
 
         // Filter out toolchains that don't track a release channel
-        let toolchains = toolchains
-            .filter(|&(_, ref t)| t.as_ref().map(Toolchain::is_tracking).unwrap_or(false));
+        Ok(toolchains
+            .filter(|&(_, ref t)| t.as_ref().map(Toolchain::is_tracking).unwrap_or(false))
+            .collect())
+    }
+
+    pub fn update_all_channels(
+        &self,
+        force_update: bool,
+    ) -> Result<Vec<(String, Result<UpdateStatus>)>> {
+        let channels = self.list_channels()?;
+        let channels = channels.into_iter();
 
         // Update toolchains and collect the results
-        let toolchains = toolchains.map(|(n, t)| {
+        let channels = channels.map(|(n, t)| {
             let t = t.and_then(|t| {
                 let t = t.install_from_dist(force_update);
                 if let Err(ref e) = t {
@@ -417,7 +423,7 @@ impl Cfg {
             (n, t)
         });
 
-        Ok(toolchains.collect())
+        Ok(channels.collect())
     }
 
     pub fn check_metadata_version(&self) -> Result<()> {
diff --git a/src/dist/dist.rs b/src/dist/dist.rs
index b21eb8c35d..173abbbb0a 100644
--- a/src/dist/dist.rs
+++ b/src/dist/dist.rs
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ fn update_from_dist_<'a>(
     }
 }
 
-fn dl_v2_manifest<'a>(
+pub fn dl_v2_manifest<'a>(
     download: DownloadCfg<'a>,
     update_hash: Option<&Path>,
     toolchain: &ToolchainDesc,
diff --git a/src/toolchain.rs b/src/toolchain.rs
index bc66ad319e..2888be5bd0 100644
--- a/src/toolchain.rs
+++ b/src/toolchain.rs
@@ -470,6 +470,36 @@ impl<'a> Toolchain<'a> {
         })
     }
 
+    pub fn show_version(&self) -> Result<Option<String>> {
+        if !self.exists() {
+            return Err(ErrorKind::ToolchainNotInstalled(self.name.to_owned()).into());
+        }
+
+        let toolchain = &self.name;
+        let toolchain = ToolchainDesc::from_str(toolchain)?;
+
+        let prefix = InstallPrefix::from(self.path.to_owned());
+        let manifestation = Manifestation::open(prefix, toolchain.target.clone())?;
+
+        match manifestation.load_manifest()? {
+            Some(manifest) => Ok(Some(manifest.get_rust_version()?.to_string())),
+            None => Ok(None),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn show_dist_version(&self) -> Result<Option<String>> {
+        let update_hash = self.update_hash()?;
+
+        match crate::dist::dist::dl_v2_manifest(
+            self.download_cfg(),
+            update_hash.as_ref().map(|p| &**p),
+            &self.desc()?,
+        )? {
+            Some((manifest, _)) => Ok(Some(manifest.get_rust_version()?.to_string())),
+            None => Ok(None),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn list_components(&self) -> Result<Vec<ComponentStatus>> {
         if !self.exists() {
             return Err(ErrorKind::ToolchainNotInstalled(self.name.to_owned()).into());
diff --git a/tests/cli-exact.rs b/tests/cli-exact.rs
index 01f8c0bec2..554c9a8ff6 100644
--- a/tests/cli-exact.rs
+++ b/tests/cli-exact.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 pub mod mock;
 
 use crate::mock::clitools::{
-    self, expect_err_ex, expect_ok, expect_ok_ex, this_host_triple, Config, Scenario,
+    self, expect_err_ex, expect_ok, expect_ok_ex, expect_stdout_ok, set_current_dist_date,
+    this_host_triple, Config, Scenario,
 };
 
 macro_rules! for_host {
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ macro_rules! for_host {
 }
 
 fn setup(f: &dyn Fn(&mut Config)) {
-    clitools::setup(Scenario::SimpleV2, f);
+    clitools::setup(Scenario::ArchivesV2, f);
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ fn update() {
             ),
             for_host!(
                 r"info: syncing channel updates for 'nightly-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -68,6 +69,89 @@ fn update_again() {
     });
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn check_updates_none() {
+    setup(&|config| {
+        set_current_dist_date(config, "2015-01-01");
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "stable", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "beta", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "nightly", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_stdout_ok(
+            config,
+            &["rustup", "check"],
+            for_host!(
+                r"stable-{0} - Up to date : 1.0.0 (hash-s-1)
+beta-{0} - Up to date : 1.1.0 (hash-b-1)
+nightly-{0} - Up to date : 1.2.0 (hash-n-1)
+"
+            ),
+        );
+    })
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn check_updates_some() {
+    setup(&|config| {
+        set_current_dist_date(config, "2015-01-01");
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "stable", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "beta", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "nightly", "--no-self-update"]);
+        set_current_dist_date(config, "2015-01-02");
+        expect_stdout_ok(
+            config,
+            &["rustup", "check"],
+            for_host!(
+                r"stable-{0} - Update available : 1.0.0 (hash-s-1) -> 1.1.0 (hash-s-2)
+beta-{0} - Update available : 1.1.0 (hash-b-1) -> 1.2.0 (hash-b-2)
+nightly-{0} - Update available : 1.2.0 (hash-n-1) -> 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
+"
+            ),
+        );
+    })
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn check_updates_with_update() {
+    setup(&|config| {
+        set_current_dist_date(config, "2015-01-01");
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "stable", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "beta", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "nightly", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_stdout_ok(
+            config,
+            &["rustup", "check"],
+            for_host!(
+                r"stable-{0} - Up to date : 1.0.0 (hash-s-1)
+beta-{0} - Up to date : 1.1.0 (hash-b-1)
+nightly-{0} - Up to date : 1.2.0 (hash-n-1)
+"
+            ),
+        );
+        set_current_dist_date(config, "2015-01-02");
+        expect_stdout_ok(
+            config,
+            &["rustup", "check"],
+            for_host!(
+                r"stable-{0} - Update available : 1.0.0 (hash-s-1) -> 1.1.0 (hash-s-2)
+beta-{0} - Update available : 1.1.0 (hash-b-1) -> 1.2.0 (hash-b-2)
+nightly-{0} - Update available : 1.2.0 (hash-n-1) -> 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
+"
+            ),
+        );
+        expect_ok(config, &["rustup", "update", "beta", "--no-self-update"]);
+        expect_stdout_ok(
+            config,
+            &["rustup", "check"],
+            for_host!(
+                r"stable-{0} - Update available : 1.0.0 (hash-s-1) -> 1.1.0 (hash-s-2)
+beta-{0} - Up to date : 1.2.0 (hash-b-2)
+nightly-{0} - Update available : 1.2.0 (hash-n-1) -> 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
+"
+            ),
+        );
+    })
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn default() {
     setup(&|config| {
@@ -82,7 +166,7 @@ fn default() {
             ),
             for_host!(
                 r"info: syncing channel updates for 'nightly-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -342,7 +426,7 @@ fn update_invalid_toolchain() {
             &["rustup", "update", "nightly-2016-03-1"],
             r"",
             r"info: syncing channel updates for 'nightly-2016-03-1'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
 error: target '2016-03-1' not found in channel.  Perhaps check https://forge.rust-lang.org/platform-support.html for available targets
 ",
         );
@@ -357,7 +441,7 @@ fn default_invalid_toolchain() {
             &["rustup", "default", "nightly-2016-03-1"],
             r"",
             r"info: syncing channel updates for 'nightly-2016-03-1'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
 error: target '2016-03-1' not found in channel.  Perhaps check https://forge.rust-lang.org/platform-support.html for available targets
 ",
         );
diff --git a/tests/cli-rustup.rs b/tests/cli-rustup.rs
index dd19120e16..a1c3bcdba9 100644
--- a/tests/cli-rustup.rs
+++ b/tests/cli-rustup.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ fn rustup_stable() {
             ),
             for_host!(
                 r"info: syncing channel updates for 'stable-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0 (hash-s-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ fn rustup_all_channels() {
             ),
             for_host!(
                 r"info: syncing channel updates for 'stable-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0 (hash-s-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ info: installing component 'cargo'
 info: installing component 'rust-std'
 info: installing component 'rust-docs'
 info: syncing channel updates for 'beta-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.2.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.2.0 (hash-b-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ info: installing component 'cargo'
 info: installing component 'rust-std'
 info: installing component 'rust-docs'
 info: syncing channel updates for 'nightly-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ fn rustup_some_channels_up_to_date() {
             ),
             for_host!(
                 r"info: syncing channel updates for 'stable-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0 (hash-s-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ info: installing component 'rust-std'
 info: installing component 'rust-docs'
 info: syncing channel updates for 'beta-{0}'
 info: syncing channel updates for 'nightly-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ fn default() {
             ),
             for_host!(
                 r"info: syncing channel updates for 'nightly-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.3.0 (hash-n-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
diff --git a/tests/cli-self-upd.rs b/tests/cli-self-upd.rs
index 5f908318ee..2b5104a274 100644
--- a/tests/cli-self-upd.rs
+++ b/tests/cli-self-upd.rs
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ fn first_install_exact() {
 ",
             for_host!(
                 r"info: syncing channel updates for 'stable-{0}'
-info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0
+info: latest update on 2015-01-02, rust version 1.1.0 (hash-s-2)
 info: downloading component 'rustc'
 info: downloading component 'cargo'
 info: downloading component 'rust-std'
diff --git a/tests/dist.rs b/tests/dist.rs
index 9920a169fe..de93d6223c 100644
--- a/tests/dist.rs
+++ b/tests/dist.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ pub fn create_mock_channel(
 
     packages.push(MockPackage {
         name: "rust",
-        version: "1.0.0",
+        version: "1.0.0".to_string(),
         targets: vec![
             MockTargetedPackage {
                 target: "x86_64-apple-darwin".to_string(),
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ pub fn create_mock_channel(
         let pkg = &bin[4..];
         packages.push(MockPackage {
             name: pkg,
-            version: "1.0.0",
+            version: "1.0.0".to_string(),
             targets: vec![
                 MockTargetedPackage {
                     target: "x86_64-apple-darwin".to_string(),
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ pub fn create_mock_channel(
 
     packages.push(MockPackage {
         name: "rust-std",
-        version: "1.0.0",
+        version: "1.0.0".to_string(),
         targets: vec![
             MockTargetedPackage {
                 target: "x86_64-apple-darwin".to_string(),
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ pub fn create_mock_channel(
 fn bonus_component(name: &'static str, contents: Arc<Vec<u8>>) -> MockPackage {
     MockPackage {
         name,
-        version: "1.0.0",
+        version: "1.0.0".to_string(),
         targets: vec![MockTargetedPackage {
             target: "x86_64-apple-darwin".to_string(),
             available: true,
diff --git a/tests/mock/clitools.rs b/tests/mock/clitools.rs
index f0464c22e6..a47ec06af4 100644
--- a/tests/mock/clitools.rs
+++ b/tests/mock/clitools.rs
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ fn create_mock_dist_server(path: &Path, s: Scenario) {
         chans.extend(vec![c1, c2, c3]);
     }
     let c4 = if s == Scenario::Unavailable {
-        build_mock_unavailable_channel("nightly", "2015-01-02", "1.3.0")
+        build_mock_unavailable_channel("nightly", "2015-01-02", "1.3.0", "hash-n-2")
     } else {
         build_mock_channel(
             s,
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ fn build_mock_channel(
 
         MockPackage {
             name,
-            version,
+            version: format!("{} ({})", version, version_hash),
             targets: target_pkgs.collect(),
         }
     });
@@ -773,7 +773,12 @@ fn build_mock_channel(
     }
 }
 
-fn build_mock_unavailable_channel(channel: &str, date: &str, version: &'static str) -> MockChannel {
+fn build_mock_unavailable_channel(
+    channel: &str,
+    date: &str,
+    version: &str,
+    version_hash: &str,
+) -> MockChannel {
     let host_triple = this_host_triple();
 
     let packages = [
@@ -789,7 +794,7 @@ fn build_mock_unavailable_channel(channel: &str, date: &str, version: &'static s
         .iter()
         .map(|name| MockPackage {
             name,
-            version,
+            version: format!("{} ({})", version, version_hash),
             targets: vec![MockTargetedPackage {
                 target: host_triple.clone(),
                 available: false,
diff --git a/tests/mock/dist.rs b/tests/mock/dist.rs
index 2c82f66872..a0c65a98f5 100644
--- a/tests/mock/dist.rs
+++ b/tests/mock/dist.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ pub struct MockChannel {
 pub struct MockPackage {
     // rust, rustc, rust-std-$triple, rust-doc, etc.
     pub name: &'static str,
-    pub version: &'static str,
+    pub version: String,
     pub targets: Vec<MockTargetedPackage>,
 }