diff --git a/lib/Dist/Zilla/App/Command/update.pm b/lib/Dist/Zilla/App/Command/update.pm
index 9a2f604..19512a4 100644
--- a/lib/Dist/Zilla/App/Command/update.pm
+++ b/lib/Dist/Zilla/App/Command/update.pm
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ sub opt_spec {
 
 sub execute {
     my ($self, $opt) = @_;
-    $self->zilla->is_trial(1) if $opt->trial;
+    my $zilla;
+    {
+      local $ENV{RELEASE_STATUS} = $ENV{RELEASE_STATUS};
+      $ENV{RELEASE_STATUS} ||= $opt->trial ? "testing" : "stable";
+      $zilla  = $self->zilla;
+    }
     $self->log("update: building into tmpdir");
     my ($built_in) = $self->zilla->ensure_built_in_tmpdir;
     $self->log("update: removing $built_in");