diff --git a/src/middlewared/middlewared/alembic/versions/24.10/2024-08-09_14-35_image_update.py b/src/middlewared/middlewared/alembic/versions/24.10/2024-08-09_14-35_image_update.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..da39f1bd2998a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/middlewared/middlewared/alembic/versions/24.10/2024-08-09_14-35_image_update.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""
+Add flag to see if image update is requried
+
+Revision ID: 4b0b7ba46e63
+Revises: 81b8bae8fb11
+Create Date: 2024-08-09 14:35:35.379137+00:00
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+revision = '4b0b7ba46e63'
+down_revision = '81b8bae8fb11'
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    with op.batch_alter_table('services_docker', schema=None) as batch_op:
+        batch_op.add_column(sa.Column('enable_image_updates', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False, server_default='1'))
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    pass
diff --git a/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/state_management.py b/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/state_management.py
index 4f01c194d0e37..7163eeea962d7 100644
--- a/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/state_management.py
+++ b/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/state_management.py
@@ -95,8 +95,10 @@ async def periodic_check(self):
 
         await (await self.middleware.call('catalog.sync')).wait()
 
-        await self.middleware.call('app.image.op.check_update')
-        # TODO: Add app upgrade alerts and account for update image check
+        docker_config = await self.middleware.call('docker.config')
+        if docker_config['enable_image_updates']:
+            self.middleware.create_task(self.middleware.call('app.image.op.check_update'))
+        # TODO: Add app upgrade alerts
 
 
 async def _event_system_ready(middleware, event_type, args):
diff --git a/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/update.py b/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/update.py
index a1bc882e372bd..c888b52dd8437 100644
--- a/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/update.py
+++ b/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/docker/update.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import middlewared.sqlalchemy as sa
 
-from middlewared.schema import accepts, Dict, Int, Patch, Str
+from middlewared.schema import accepts, Bool, Dict, Int, Patch, Str
 from middlewared.service import CallError, ConfigService, job, private, returns
 
 from .state_utils import Status
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class DockerModel(sa.Model):
 
     id = sa.Column(sa.Integer(), primary_key=True)
     pool = sa.Column(sa.String(255), default=None, nullable=True)
+    enable_image_updates = sa.Column(sa.Boolean(), default=True)
 
 
 class DockerService(ConfigService):
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ class Config:
 
     ENTRY = Dict(
         'docker_entry',
+        Bool('enable_image_updates', required=True),
         Int('id', required=True),
         Str('dataset', required=True),
         Str('pool', required=True, null=True),
@@ -54,16 +56,22 @@ async def do_update(self, job, data):
         config.update(data)
 
         if old_config != config:
-            try:
-                await self.middleware.call('service.stop', 'docker')
-            except Exception as e:
-                raise CallError(f'Failed to stop docker service: {e}')
+            if config['pool'] != old_config['pool']:
+                job.set_progress(20, 'Stopping Docker service')
+                try:
+                    await self.middleware.call('service.stop', 'docker')
+                except Exception as e:
+                    raise CallError(f'Failed to stop docker service: {e}')
 
-            await self.middleware.call('docker.state.set_status', Status.UNCONFIGURED.value)
+                await self.middleware.call('docker.state.set_status', Status.UNCONFIGURED.value)
 
             await self.middleware.call('datastore.update', self._config.datastore, old_config['id'], config)
-            await self.middleware.call('docker.setup.status_change')
 
+            if config['pool'] != old_config['pool']:
+                job.set_progress(60, 'Applying requested configuration')
+                await self.middleware.call('docker.setup.status_change')
+
+        job.set_progress(100, 'Requested configuration applied')
         return await self.config()
 
     @accepts(roles=['DOCKER_READ'])
diff --git a/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/service_/services/docker.py b/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/service_/services/docker.py
index 81052a7e1d5ea..3aa6ff23f18bb 100644
--- a/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/service_/services/docker.py
+++ b/src/middlewared/middlewared/plugins/service_/services/docker.py
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ async def after_start(self):
         await self.middleware.call('docker.state.set_status', Status.RUNNING.value)
         self.middleware.create_task(self.middleware.call('docker.events.setup'))
         await self.middleware.call('catalog.sync')
+        if (await self.middleware.call('docker.config'))['enable_image_updates']:
+            self.middleware.create_task(self.middleware.call('app.image.op.check_update'))
 
     async def before_stop(self):
         await self.middleware.call('docker.state.set_status', Status.STOPPING.value)