While a SIM-enabled cellular device is in a disable-SIM-card-updates mode of operation during which SIM-card updates should be disabled, the SIM-enabled cellular device blocks updates of a cellular Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card of the SIM-enabled cellular device. Upon determining that the SIM-enabled cellular device is no longer in the disable-SIM-card-updates mode, the SIM-card updates are no longer blocked. SIM-card updates may be blocked by blocking the following types of messages received by the SIM-enabled cellular device from a cellular network: Short Message Service (SMS) SIM, Short Message Service (SMS) SIM update, Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) packet update, and Access Point Name (APN) packet update. The SIM-enabled cellular device may be an automotive Telematics Control Unit (TCU). The automotive TCU may enter the disable-SIM-card-updates mode due to an automotive telematics emergency call. The automotive-telematic-emergency call may include a call-back period during which the TCU remains available to receive an emergency call back from a telematics service center.