diff --git a/modules/update/update.fetch.inc b/modules/update/update.fetch.inc
index 470bb41..df3e711 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.fetch.inc
+++ b/modules/update/update.fetch.inc
@@ -171,7 +170,12 @@ function _update_cron_notify() {
         else {
           $target_language = $default_language;
         }
-        drupal_mail('update', 'status_notify', $target, $target_language, $params);
+        $message = drupal_mail('update', 'status_notify', $target, $target_language, $params);
+        // Track when the last mail was successfully sent to avoid sending
+        // too many e-mails.
+        if ($message['result']) {
+          variable_set('update_last_email_notification', time());
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/modules/update/update.install b/modules/update/update.install
index ba91b70..bfb56ae 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.install
+++ b/modules/update/update.install
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@ function update_uninstall() {
     'update_check_frequency',
     'update_fetch_url',
     'update_last_check',
+    'update_last_email_notification',
     'update_notification_threshold',
     'update_notify_emails',
   );
diff --git a/modules/update/update.module b/modules/update/update.module
index b6b595a..881adc8 100644
--- a/modules/update/update.module
+++ b/modules/update/update.module
@@ -300,6 +299,11 @@ function update_cron() {
   // configured update interval has elapsed.
   if (!_update_cache_get('update_available_releases') || ((time() - variable_get('update_last_check', 0)) > $interval)) {
     update_refresh();
+  }
+  if ((time() - variable_get('update_last_email_notification', 0)) > $interval) {
+    // If configured time between notifications elapsed, send email about
+    // updates possibly available.
+    module_load_include('inc', 'update', 'update.fetch');
     _update_cron_notify();
   }
 }