diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index d557b7a8ff..58dfc7231d 100755
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -8309,7 +8309,7 @@ David  3 Sept 2007
 Charlie 4 Sep 2007
     - V6 GFX: Fix bug on OS 10.3.9
     - CC: fix bug so we do new version check when client is first started 
-        as well as every 14 days thereafter.
+        as well as every 14 days thereafter.  Display message in red.
     - make shared memory using memory mapped files more robust.
     
     api/
diff --git a/client/acct_setup.C b/client/acct_setup.C
index ccd490a3e1..69a81420f0 100644
--- a/client/acct_setup.C
+++ b/client/acct_setup.C
@@ -250,11 +250,11 @@ void GET_CURRENT_VERSION_OP::handle_reply(int http_op_retval) {
         while (fgets(buf, 256, f)) {
             if (match_tag(buf, "<version>")) {
                 if (parse_version(f, new_version)) {
-                    msg_printf(0, MSG_INFO,
+                    msg_printf(0, MSG_USER_ERROR,
                         "A new version of BOINC (%s) is available for your computer",
                         new_version
                     );
-                    msg_printf(0, MSG_INFO,
+                    msg_printf(0, MSG_USER_ERROR,
                         "Visit http://boinc.berkeley.edu/download.php to get it."
                     );
                     gstate.newer_version = string(new_version);