diff --git a/projects/Rockchip/bootloader/canupdate.sh b/projects/Rockchip/bootloader/canupdate.sh
index b9b32ca914..908179b820 100644
--- a/projects/Rockchip/bootloader/canupdate.sh
+++ b/projects/Rockchip/bootloader/canupdate.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # Copyright (C) 2017-present Team LibreELEC (https://libreelec.tv)
 
+# detect legacy kernel installs and abort to prevent upgrades
+case $(uname -r) in
+  4.4*)
+    echo "Updates from legacy kernels are not supported!"
+    sleep 10
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
 # Allow upgrades between arm and aarch64
 if [ "$1" = "@PROJECT@.arm" -o "$1" = "@PROJECT@.aarch64" ]; then
   exit 0