diff --git a/src/main/resources/scripts/install.sh b/src/main/resources/scripts/install.sh
index 7bf20d5e..70037484 100755
--- a/src/main/resources/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/src/main/resources/scripts/install.sh
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ mkdir -p "${GVM_DIR}/vertx"
 
 echo "Prime the config file..."
 touch "${gvm_config_file}"
+echo "gvm_auto_answer=false" >> "${gvm_config_file}"
 
 echo "Download script archive..."
 curl -s "${GVM_SERVICE}/res?platform=${gvm_platform}&purpose=install" > "${gvm_zip_file}"
diff --git a/src/main/resources/scripts/selfupdate.sh b/src/main/resources/scripts/selfupdate.sh
index b3c7be68..7fed231f 100755
--- a/src/main/resources/scripts/selfupdate.sh
+++ b/src/main/resources/scripts/selfupdate.sh
@@ -72,8 +72,10 @@ fi
 
 echo "Prime the config file..."
 gvm_config_file="${GVM_DIR}/etc/config"
-rm "${gvm_config_file}"
 touch "${gvm_config_file}"
+if [[ -z $(cat ${gvm_config_file} | grep 'gvm_auto_answer') ]]; then
+	echo "gvm_auto_answer=false" >> "${gvm_config_file}"
+fi
 
 echo "Download new scripts to: ${gvm_tmp_zip}"
 curl -s "${GVM_SERVICE}/res?platform=${gvm_platform}&purpose=selfupdate" > "${gvm_tmp_zip}"
diff --git a/src/test/cucumber/gvm/self_update.feature b/src/test/cucumber/gvm/self_update.feature
index 426707ca..89d576f5 100644
--- a/src/test/cucumber/gvm/self_update.feature
+++ b/src/test/cucumber/gvm/self_update.feature
@@ -19,6 +19,17 @@ Feature: Self Update
     And the configuration is not present in the extensions folder
     And the configuration file is present in the etc folder
 
+  Scenario: Update an installation without an Auto Answer config
+    Given an empty configuration file
+    When I enter "gvm selfupdate"
+    Then the configuration file contains "gvm_auto_answer=false"
+
+  Scenario: Update an installation already containing an Auto Answer config
+    Given the configuration file has been primed with "gvm_auto_answer=true"
+    When I enter "gvm selfupdate"
+    Then the configuration file contains "gvm_auto_answer=true"
+    And the configuration file does not contain "gvm_auto_answer=false"
+
   Scenario: Rename the vertx Candidate on Upgrade
     Given the candidate "vert.x" version "1.3.0.final" is already installed and default
     When I enter "gvm selfupdate"
diff --git a/src/test/resources/gvm/upgrade_steps.groovy b/src/test/resources/gvm/upgrade_steps.groovy
index f2f5e9b5..6b74785e 100644
--- a/src/test/resources/gvm/upgrade_steps.groovy
+++ b/src/test/resources/gvm/upgrade_steps.groovy
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ And(~'^the configuration file contains "([^"]*)"$') { String content ->
     assert configFile.text.contains(content)
 }
 
+And(~'^the configuration file does not contain "([^"]*)"$') { String content ->
+    def configFile = "$gvmDir/etc/config" as File
+    assert ! configFile.text.contains(content)
+}
+
 Given(~'^a configuration file in the extensions folder$') {->
     def configFile = "$gvmDir/ext/config" as File
     configFile.text = ""
@@ -60,4 +65,8 @@ And(~'^the gvm module scripts are placed in the src folder$') {->
 
 And(~'^the staging folder is cleaned up$') {->
     assert ! new File("$gvmDir/tmp/stage").exists()
+}
+Given(~'^an empty configuration file$') {->
+    def configFile = "$gvmDir/ext/config" as File
+    configFile.text = ""
 }
\ No newline at end of file