diff --git a/src/scancode/cli.py b/src/scancode/cli.py
index 1e189c89641..add654f2ec4 100644
--- a/src/scancode/cli.py
+++ b/src/scancode/cli.py
@@ -480,6 +480,8 @@ def scancode(
         if check_version:
             from scancode.outdated import check_scancode_version
             outdated = check_scancode_version()
+        else:
+            outdated = None
 
         # run proper
         success, _results = run_scan(
diff --git a/tests/scancode/test_cli.py b/tests/scancode/test_cli.py
index 93d56ba0d93..e537002af6c 100644
--- a/tests/scancode/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/scancode/test_cli.py
@@ -121,6 +121,12 @@ def test_run_scan_includes_outdated_in_extra():
     assert results['headers'][0]['extra_data']['OUTDATED'] == 'out of date'
 
 
+def test_no_version_check_run_is_successful():
+    test_file = test_env.get_test_loc('single/iproute.c')
+    result_file = test_env.get_temp_file('json')
+    run_scan_click(['--no-check-version', test_file, '--json', result_file], expected_rc=0)
+
+
 def test_usage_and_help_return_a_correct_script_name_on_all_platforms():
     result = run_scan_click(['--help'])
     assert 'Usage: scancode [OPTIONS]' in result.output