diff --git a/aider/__init__.py b/aider/__init__.py
index bf2e1824d49..2f616d59bae 100644
--- a/aider/__init__.py
+++ b/aider/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from packaging import version
 
-__version__ = "0.89.1.dev"
+__version__ = "0.89.2.dev"
 safe_version = __version__
 
 try:
diff --git a/aider/args.py b/aider/args.py
index 743fa2316ec..51b8480bd43 100644
--- a/aider/args.py
+++ b/aider/args.py
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ def get_parser(default_config_files, git_root):
         "--check-update",
         action=argparse.BooleanOptionalAction,
         help="Check for new aider versions on launch",
-        default=True,
+        default=False,
     )
     group.add_argument(
         "--show-release-notes",
diff --git a/aider/coders/agent_coder.py b/aider/coders/agent_coder.py
index b5f1c949791..36a968df182 100644
--- a/aider/coders/agent_coder.py
+++ b/aider/coders/agent_coder.py
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def _get_agent_config(self):
             if "skills_excludelist" not in config:
                 config["skills_excludelist"] = []
 
-            self._initialize_skills_manager(config)
+        self._initialize_skills_manager(config)
 
         return config
 
@@ -332,8 +332,6 @@ def _initialize_skills_manager(self, config):
         """
         Initialize the skills manager with the configured directory paths and filters.
         """
-        if not config.get("skills_paths", []):
-            return
 
         try:
             git_root = str(self.repo.root) if self.repo else None