diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/alert/Alert.java b/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/alert/Alert.java
index ab2fef7bd6..0d27ce2cb5 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/alert/Alert.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/bitsquare/alert/Alert.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 package io.bitsquare.alert;
 
+import com.google.common.annotations.VisibleForTesting;
 import io.bitsquare.app.Version;
 import io.bitsquare.common.crypto.Sig;
 import io.bitsquare.p2p.storage.payload.StoragePayload;
@@ -69,9 +70,14 @@ public final class Alert implements StoragePayload {
     }
 
     public boolean isNewVersion() {
+        return isNewVersion(Version.VERSION);
+    }
+
+    @VisibleForTesting
+    protected boolean isNewVersion(String appVersion) {
         // Usually we use 3 digits (0.4.8) but to support also 4 digits in case of hotfixes (0.4.8.1) we 
         // add a 0 at all 3 digit versions to allow correct comparison: 0.4.8 -> 480; 0.4.8.1 -> 481; 481 > 480
-        String myVersionString = Version.VERSION.replace(".", "");
+        String myVersionString = appVersion.replace(".", "");
         if (myVersionString.length() == 3)
             myVersionString += "0";
         int versionNum = Integer.valueOf(myVersionString);
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/io/bitsquare/alert/AlertTest.java b/core/src/test/java/io/bitsquare/alert/AlertTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5dbbf52574
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/test/java/io/bitsquare/alert/AlertTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of Bitsquare.
+ *
+ * Bitsquare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at
+ * your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * Bitsquare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Affero General Public
+ * License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with Bitsquare. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package io.bitsquare.alert;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+
+public class AlertTest {
+    private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(AlertTest.class);
+
+    @Test
+    public void testIsNewVersion() {
+        Alert alert = new Alert(null, true, "0.4.9.9.1");
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.9"));
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.8"));
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9"));
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.9.0"));
+        assertFalse(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.9.1"));
+
+        alert = new Alert(null, true, "0.4.9.9.2");
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.9.1"));
+        assertFalse(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.9.2"));
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.8"));
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9"));
+
+        alert = new Alert(null, true, "0.4.9.9");
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9"));
+        assertTrue(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.8"));
+        assertFalse(alert.isNewVersion("0.4.9.9"));
+    }
+}