diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ze/zed-editor/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/ze/zed-editor/package.nix
index 91f14aafafcf..4019236fa14f 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ze/zed-editor/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ze/zed-editor/package.nix
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
         "${src}/assets/fonts/zed-sans"
       ];
     };
+    # Setting this environment variable allows to disable auto-updates
+    # https://zed.dev/docs/development/linux#notes-for-packaging-zed
+    ZED_UPDATE_EXPLANATION = "zed has been installed using nix. Auto-updates have thus been disabled.";
   };
 
   RUSTFLAGS = if withGLES then "--cfg gles" else "";