diff --git a/build.assets/macos/tsh/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.gravitational.teleport.tsh.vnetd.plist b/build.assets/macos/tsh/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.gravitational.teleport.tsh.vnetd.plist
index 5bd6b0884a1ce..6ee39856cb2af 100644
--- a/build.assets/macos/tsh/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.gravitational.teleport.tsh.vnetd.plist
+++ b/build.assets/macos/tsh/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.gravitational.teleport.tsh.vnetd.plist
@@ -22,5 +22,12 @@
 	<string>/var/log/vnet.log</string>
 	<key>ThrottleInterval</key>
 	<integer>5</integer>
+	<key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
+	<dict>
+		<!-- Auto-updates are disabled because $HOME isn't available,
+		but let's also disable them explicitly anyway. -->
+		<key>TELEPORT_TOOLS_VERSION</key>
+		<string>off</string>
+	</dict>
 </dict>
 </plist>
diff --git a/build.assets/macos/tshdev/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.goteleport.tshdev.vnetd.plist b/build.assets/macos/tshdev/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.goteleport.tshdev.vnetd.plist
index 8b51b2a044191..90d6139ac96ad 100644
--- a/build.assets/macos/tshdev/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.goteleport.tshdev.vnetd.plist
+++ b/build.assets/macos/tshdev/tsh.app/Contents/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.goteleport.tshdev.vnetd.plist
@@ -22,5 +22,12 @@
 	<string>/var/log/vnet.log</string>
 	<key>ThrottleInterval</key>
 	<integer>5</integer>
+	<key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
+	<dict>
+		<!-- Auto-updates are disabled because $HOME isn't available,
+		but let's also disable them explicitly anyway. -->
+		<key>TELEPORT_TOOLS_VERSION</key>
+		<string>off</string>
+	</dict>
 </dict>
 </plist>