diff --git a/scripts/update-docs-branch.js b/scripts/update-docs-branch.js
index 26922ec49..324ba0c67 100644
--- a/scripts/update-docs-branch.js
+++ b/scripts/update-docs-branch.js
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ if (!match) {
   process.exit(1);
 }
 
+const pkgVersion = require('../package.json').version;
+
+if (pkgVersion.includes('-') && !pkgVersion.includes('.0.0-')) {
+  console.error('Refusing to update docs: non-major prerelease detected');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
 const current = match.groups;
 const docsBranch = `docs-v${current.major}.x`;