diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome/update.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome/update.nix
index 0b19f761a900..f5db71174ad8 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome/update.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/gnome/update.nix
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ let
     package_version="$3"
     version_policy="$4"
 
-    flvFlags=("$package_name" "$version_policy" "stable")
+    flvFlags=("$package_name" "$version_policy" "''${GNOME_UPDATE_STABILITY:-stable}")
 
     if (( $# >= 5 )); then
       upper_bound="$5"