diff --git a/src/rustup.ts b/src/rustup.ts
index 3341d7b..f2b412c 100644
--- a/src/rustup.ts
+++ b/src/rustup.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ export async function install() {
 
     core.debug('rustup is located under: ' + toolPath);
     core.addPath(path.join(toolPath, 'bin'));
+  } else {
+    // update the GitHub managed VM version of rustup
+    // to leverage newer features like "latest latest compatible nightly"
+    await exec.exec('rustup', ['self', 'update']);
   }
 }