diff --git a/app/models/packages.py b/app/models/packages.py
index 260f9e2..2afb611 100644
--- a/app/models/packages.py
+++ b/app/models/packages.py
@@ -956,4 +956,6 @@ class PackageUpdateConfig(db.Model):
 	outdated    = db.Column(db.Boolean, nullable=False, default=False)
 
 	trigger     = db.Column(db.Enum(PackageUpdateTrigger), nullable=False, default=PackageUpdateTrigger.COMMIT)
+	ref         = db.Column(db.String(41), nullable=True, default=None)
+
 	make_release = db.Column(db.Boolean, nullable=False, default=False)
diff --git a/app/models/users.py b/app/models/users.py
index 63f5e52..a199715 100644
--- a/app/models/users.py
+++ b/app/models/users.py
@@ -313,14 +313,17 @@ class NotificationType(enum.Enum):
 	# Posted reply to subscribed thread
 	THREAD_REPLY   = 5
 
+	# A bot notification
+	BOT            = 6
+
 	# Added / removed as maintainer
-	MAINTAINER     = 6
+	MAINTAINER     = 7
 
 	# Editor misc
-	EDITOR_ALERT   = 7
+	EDITOR_ALERT   = 8
 
 	# Editor misc
-	EDITOR_MISC    = 8
+	EDITOR_MISC    = 9
 
 	# Any other
 	OTHER          = 0
@@ -343,6 +346,8 @@ class NotificationType(enum.Enum):
 			return "When a user posts a review on your package."
 		elif self == NotificationType.THREAD_REPLY:
 			return "When someone replies to a thread you're watching."
+		elif self == NotificationType.BOT:
+			return "From a bot - for example, update notifications."
 		elif self == NotificationType.MAINTAINER:
 			return "When your package's maintainers change."
 		elif self == NotificationType.EDITOR_ALERT:
@@ -424,6 +429,7 @@ class UserNotificationPreferences(db.Model):
 	pref_new_thread       = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
 	pref_new_review       = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
 	pref_thread_reply     = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
+	pref_bot              = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
 	pref_maintainer       = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
 	pref_editor_alert     = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
 	pref_editor_misc      = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
@@ -436,6 +442,7 @@ class UserNotificationPreferences(db.Model):
 		self.pref_new_thread = 1
 		self.pref_new_review = 1
 		self.pref_thread_reply = 2
+		self.pref_bot = 1
 		self.pref_maintainer = 1
 		self.pref_editor_alert = 1
 		self.pref_editor_misc = 0
diff --git a/app/utils.py b/app/utils.py
index d8d5874..d81b34e 100644
--- a/app/utils.py
+++ b/app/utils.py
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ def post_system_thread(package: Package, title: str, message: str):
 	reply.comment = "# {}\n\n{}".format(title, message)
 	db.session.add(reply)
 
-	addNotification(thread.watchers, system_user, NotificationType.THREAD_REPLY,
+	addNotification(thread.watchers, system_user, NotificationType.BOT,
 			title, thread.getViewURL(), thread.package)
 
 	thread.replies.append(reply)
diff --git a/migrations/versions/f565dde93553_.py b/migrations/versions/f565dde93553_.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1bc7e9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/versions/f565dde93553_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+"""empty message
+
+Revision ID: f565dde93553
+Revises: 4585ce5147b8
+Create Date: 2020-12-15 21:49:19.190893
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.dialects import postgresql
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = 'f565dde93553'
+down_revision = '4585ce5147b8'
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    op.add_column('package_update_config', sa.Column('ref', sa.String(length=41), nullable=True))
+    op.add_column('user_notification_preferences', sa.Column('pref_bot', sa.Integer(), nullable=True, server_default=None))
+    op.execute("""UPDATE user_notification_preferences SET pref_bot=pref_new_thread""")
+    op.alter_column('user_notification_preferences', 'pref_bot',
+            existing_type=sa.INTEGER(),
+            nullable=False)
+
+    op.execute("COMMIT")
+    op.execute("ALTER TYPE notificationtype ADD VALUE 'BOT'")
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    op.drop_column('user_notification_preferences', 'pref_bot')
+    op.drop_column('package_update_config', 'ref')