diff --git a/dirmngr/dirmngr.c b/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
index 15ba33b3d..7e640d4d6 100644
--- a/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
+++ b/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
@@ -1798,7 +1798,7 @@ housekeeping_thread (void *arg)
   if (network_activity_seen)
     {
       network_activity_seen = 0;
-      if (opt.use_tor || opt.allow_version_check)
+      if (opt.allow_version_check)
         dirmngr_load_swdb (&ctrlbuf, 0);
     }
 
diff --git a/doc/dirmngr.texi b/doc/dirmngr.texi
index fcc174f92..7fc11a2aa 100644
--- a/doc/dirmngr.texi
+++ b/doc/dirmngr.texi
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ seconds.
 @item --allow-version-check
 @opindex allow-version-check
 Allow Dirmngr to connect to @code{https://versions.gnupg.org} to get
-the list of current software versions.  If this option is enabled, or
-if @option{use-tor} is active, the list is retrieved when the local
+the list of current software versions.  If this option is enabled
+the list is retrieved in case the local
 copy does not exist or is older than 5 to 7 days.  See the option
 @option{--query-swdb} of the command @command{gpgconf} for more
 details.  Note, that regardless of this option a version check can