diff --git a/plugins/powerd/fu-plugin-powerd.c b/plugins/powerd/fu-plugin-powerd.c
index 76cd87eb7..ace8d5671 100644
--- a/plugins/powerd/fu-plugin-powerd.c
+++ b/plugins/powerd/fu-plugin-powerd.c
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ fu_plugin_update_prepare (FuPlugin *plugin,
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 
+	/* permit updates when the device does not care about power conditions */
+	if (flags & FWUPD_INSTALL_FLAG_IGNORE_POWER)
+		return TRUE;
+
 	/* parse and use for battery-check conditions */
 	g_variant_get (powerd_response,
 		       "(uud)",