diff --git a/src/ipc/handlers/release_note_handlers.ts b/src/ipc/handlers/release_note_handlers.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..107f532
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ipc/handlers/release_note_handlers.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import log from "electron-log";
+import fetch from "node-fetch";
+import { createLoggedHandler } from "./safe_handle";
+import { DoesReleaseNoteExistParams } from "../ipc_types";
+
+const logger = log.scope("release_note_handlers");
+
+const handle = createLoggedHandler(logger);
+
+export function registerReleaseNoteHandlers() {
+  handle(
+    "does-release-note-exist",
+    async (_, params: DoesReleaseNoteExistParams) => {
+      const { version } = params;
+
+      if (!version || typeof version !== "string") {
+        throw new Error("Invalid version provided");
+      }
+
+      const releaseNoteUrl = `https://www.dyad.sh/docs/releases/${version}`;
+
+      logger.debug(`Checking for release note at: ${releaseNoteUrl}`);
+
+      try {
+        const response = await fetch(releaseNoteUrl, { method: "HEAD" }); // Use HEAD to check existence without downloading content
+        if (response.ok) {
+          logger.debug(
+            `Release note found for version ${version} at ${releaseNoteUrl}`,
+          );
+          return { exists: true, url: releaseNoteUrl };
+        } else if (response.status === 404) {
+          logger.debug(
+            `Release note not found for version ${version} at ${releaseNoteUrl}`,
+          );
+          return { exists: false };
+        } else {
+          // Log other non-404 errors but still treat as "not found" for the client,
+          // as the primary goal is to check existence.
+          logger.warn(
+            `Unexpected status code ${response.status} when checking for release note: ${releaseNoteUrl}`,
+          );
+          return { exists: false };
+        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        logger.error(
+          `Error fetching release note for version ${version} at ${releaseNoteUrl}:`,
+          error,
+        );
+        // In case of network errors, etc., assume it doesn't exist or is inaccessible.
+        // Throwing an error here would propagate to the client and might be too disruptive
+        // if the check is just for UI purposes (e.g., showing a link).
+        // Consider if specific errors should be thrown based on requirements.
+        return { exists: false };
+      }
+    },
+  );
+
+  logger.debug("Registered release note IPC handlers");
+}
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc_client.ts b/src/ipc/ipc_client.ts
index 542628d..46ee80b 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc_client.ts
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc_client.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import type {
   LanguageModel,
   CreateCustomLanguageModelProviderParams,
   CreateCustomLanguageModelParams,
+  DoesReleaseNoteExistParams,
 } from "./ipc_types";
 import type { ProposalResult } from "@/lib/schemas";
 import { showError } from "@/lib/toast";
@@ -736,6 +737,12 @@ export class IpcClient {
     return this.ipcRenderer.invoke("get-system-platform");
   }
 
+  public async doesReleaseNoteExist(
+    params: DoesReleaseNoteExistParams,
+  ): Promise<{ exists: boolean; url?: string }> {
+    return this.ipcRenderer.invoke("does-release-note-exist", params);
+  }
+
   public async getLanguageModelProviders(): Promise<LanguageModelProvider[]> {
     return this.ipcRenderer.invoke("get-language-model-providers");
   }
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc_host.ts b/src/ipc/ipc_host.ts
index 03cf4a0..68c617e 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc_host.ts
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc_host.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { registerWindowHandlers } from "./handlers/window_handlers";
 import { registerUploadHandlers } from "./handlers/upload_handlers";
 import { registerVersionHandlers } from "./handlers/version_handlers";
 import { registerLanguageModelHandlers } from "./handlers/language_model_handlers";
+import { registerReleaseNoteHandlers } from "./handlers/release_note_handlers";
 
 export function registerIpcHandlers() {
   // Register all IPC handlers by category
@@ -35,4 +36,5 @@ export function registerIpcHandlers() {
   registerUploadHandlers();
   registerVersionHandlers();
   registerLanguageModelHandlers();
+  registerReleaseNoteHandlers();
 }
diff --git a/src/ipc/ipc_types.ts b/src/ipc/ipc_types.ts
index be33de1..74b50b0 100644
--- a/src/ipc/ipc_types.ts
+++ b/src/ipc/ipc_types.ts
@@ -181,3 +181,7 @@ export interface CreateCustomLanguageModelParams {
   maxOutputTokens?: number;
   contextWindow?: number;
 }
+
+export interface DoesReleaseNoteExistParams {
+  version: string;
+}
diff --git a/src/pages/home.tsx b/src/pages/home.tsx
index 5127614..84318dd 100644
--- a/src/pages/home.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/home.tsx
@@ -58,17 +58,25 @@ export default function HomePage() {
           lastShownReleaseNotesVersion: appVersion,
         });
 
-        // Check if release notes exist for this version
-        const url = `https://www.dyad.sh/docs/releases/${appVersion}`;
-        const exists = await checkPageExists(url);
-        if (exists) {
-          setReleaseUrl(url + "?hideHeader=true&theme=" + theme);
-          setReleaseNotesOpen(true);
+        try {
+          const result = await IpcClient.getInstance().doesReleaseNoteExist({
+            version: appVersion,
+          });
+
+          if (result.exists && result.url) {
+            setReleaseUrl(result.url + "?hideHeader=true&theme=" + theme);
+            setReleaseNotesOpen(true);
+          }
+        } catch (err) {
+          console.warn(
+            "Unable to check if release note exists for: " + appVersion,
+            err,
+          );
         }
       }
     };
     updateLastVersionLaunched();
-  }, [appVersion, settings, updateSettings]);
+  }, [appVersion, settings, updateSettings, theme]);
 
   // Get the appId from search params
   const appId = search.appId ? Number(search.appId) : null;
@@ -251,15 +259,3 @@ export default function HomePage() {
     </div>
   );
 }
-
-function checkPageExists(url: string) {
-  return fetch(url, { mode: "no-cors" })
-    .then(() => {
-      // Promise resolved - resource likely exists
-      return true;
-    })
-    .catch(() => {
-      // Promise rejected - resource likely doesn't exist or network error
-      return false;
-    });
-}
diff --git a/src/preload.ts b/src/preload.ts
index 3e1d47a..ff7b2db 100644
--- a/src/preload.ts
+++ b/src/preload.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ const validInvokeChannels = [
   "delete-chat",
   "delete-messages",
   "start-chat-stream",
+  "does-release-note-exist",
 ] as const;
 
 // Add valid receive channels