A method for updating software of storage units of a set of storage units in a storage network. In an embodiment, each storage unit of the set of storage units determines a data slice storage status for data slices stored in the storage unit (e.g., by monitoring rebuilding messages relating to the data slices). A processing module of the storage network obtains the data slice storage status of the storage units of the set of storage units and determines whether to perform a software update to software of the storage units of the set of storage units. Determining whether to perform the software update includes determining, based on the data slice storage status of the storage units, whether a threshold number of storage units are associated with a favorable data slice storage status. In response to determining that a threshold number of storage units are associated with a favorable data slice storage status, the processing module indicates to perform the software update.