diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fe1b42f..7292bf8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ Recommended values for `VITE_API_URL`:
 
 - Sidebar entry for runtime and system details
 - Displays current version, latest known version, uptime, host, and platform
-- "Check for Updates" against the official upstream repository (`git.nesterovic.cc/nessi/NexaPG`)
+- "Check for Updates" against the latest published release in the official upstream repository (`git.nesterovic.cc/nessi/NexaPG`)
 - Version/update source are read-only in UI (maintainer-controlled in code/release flow)
 
 ## Target Owner Notifications
diff --git a/backend/app/services/service_info.py b/backend/app/services/service_info.py
index b19a10f..c1550f3 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/service_info.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/service_info.py
@@ -65,8 +65,6 @@ def _get_json(url: str):
 
 def _fetch_latest_from_upstream_sync() -> tuple[str, str]:
     latest_release_url = f"{UPSTREAM_REPO_API}/releases/latest"
-    tags_url = f"{UPSTREAM_REPO_API}/tags?page=1&limit=1"
-    commits_url = f"{UPSTREAM_REPO_API}/commits?sha=main&page=1&limit=1"
 
     try:
         release = _get_json(latest_release_url)
@@ -74,27 +72,9 @@ def _fetch_latest_from_upstream_sync() -> tuple[str, str]:
             tag = (release.get("tag_name") or release.get("name") or "").strip()
             if tag:
                 return tag[:64], "release"
-    except Exception:
-        pass
-
-    try:
-        tags = _get_json(tags_url)
-        if isinstance(tags, list) and tags:
-            first = tags[0] if isinstance(tags[0], dict) else {}
-            tag = (first.get("name") or "").strip()
-            if tag:
-                return tag[:64], "tag"
-    except Exception:
-        pass
-
-    commits = _get_json(commits_url)
-    if isinstance(commits, list) and commits:
-        first = commits[0] if isinstance(commits[0], dict) else {}
-        sha = (first.get("sha") or "").strip()
-        if sha:
-            short = sha[:7]
-            return f"commit-{short}", "commit"
-    raise ValueError("Could not fetch release/tag/commit from upstream repository")
+    except Exception as exc:
+        raise ValueError(f"Could not fetch latest release from upstream repository: {exc}") from exc
+    raise ValueError("No published release found in upstream repository")
 
 
 async def fetch_latest_from_upstream() -> tuple[str | None, str | None, str | None]: