diff --git a/src/fixits.c b/src/fixits.c
index 769b8508..25353216 100644
--- a/src/fixits.c
+++ b/src/fixits.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "quotearg.h"
 #include "vasnprintf.h"
 
+#include "complain.h"
 #include "files.h"
 
 typedef struct
@@ -97,6 +98,13 @@ fixits_run (void)
   if (!fixits)
     return;
 
+  if (!update_flag)
+    {
+      complain (NULL, Wother,
+                _("some fixes can be applied.  Rerun with option '--update'."));
+      return;
+    }
+
   /* This is not unlike what is done in location_caret.  */
   uniqstr input = ((fixit *) gl_list_get_at (fixits, 0))->location.start.file;
   /* Backup the file. */
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 94782573..76ffcdef 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 
   /* Fix input file now, even if there are errors: that's less
      warnings in the following runs.  */
-  if (update_flag)
-    fixits_run ();
+  fixits_run ();
   fixits_free ();
 
   if (complaint_status == status_complaint)