diff --git a/upgrade-helper.py b/upgrade-helper.py
index 40f31c4..668839a 100755
--- a/upgrade-helper.py
+++ b/upgrade-helper.py
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ def parse_cmdline():
                         help="set the debug level: CRITICAL=1, ERROR=2, WARNING=3, INFO=4, DEBUG=5")
     parser.add_argument("-e", "--send-emails", action="store_true", default=False,
                         help="send emails to recipe maintainers")
+    parser.add_argument("--stable", action="store_true", default=False,
+                        help="Do stable upgrades")
     parser.add_argument("-s", "--skip-compilation", action="store_true", default=False,
                         help="do not compile, just change the checksums, remove PR, and commit")
     parser.add_argument("-c", "--config-file", default=None,
@@ -711,7 +713,10 @@ class UniverseUpdater(Updater):
         upgrade_pkggroups = []
 
         for layer_name, layer_recipes in self.recipes:
-            pkggroups = oe.recipeutils.get_recipe_upgrade_status(layer_recipes)
+            if self.args.stable:
+                pkggroups = oe.recipeutils.get_recipe_upgrade_status(layer_recipes, stable_upgrade=True)
+            else:
+                pkggroups = oe.recipeutils.get_recipe_upgrade_status(layer_recipes)
 
             for group in pkggroups:
                 upgrade_group = []