diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/update.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/update.php
index 33325236e3414..214688ce39c86 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/update.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/update.php
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ function update_nag() {
 	if ( current_user_can( 'update_core' ) ) {
 		$msg = sprintf(
 			/* translators: 1: URL to WordPress release notes, 2: New WordPress version, 3: URL to network admin, 4: Accessibility text. */
-			__( '<a href="%1$s">WordPress %2$s</a> is available! <a href="%3$s" aria-label="%4$s">Please update now</a>.' ),
+			__( '<a href="%1$s" target="_blank">WordPress %2$s</a> is available! <a href="%3$s" aria-label="%4$s">Please update now</a>.' ),
 			$version_url,
 			$cur->current,
 			network_admin_url( 'update-core.php' ),
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ function update_nag() {
 	} else {
 		$msg = sprintf(
 			/* translators: 1: URL to WordPress release notes, 2: New WordPress version. */
-			__( '<a href="%1$s">WordPress %2$s</a> is available! Please notify the site administrator.' ),
+			__( '<a href="%1$s" target="_blank">WordPress %2$s</a> is available! Please notify the site administrator.' ),
 			$version_url,
 			$cur->current
 		);