diff --git a/mycroft/skills/skill_manager.py b/mycroft/skills/skill_manager.py
index 5618171e5e..a920fd9ad7 100644
--- a/mycroft/skills/skill_manager.py
+++ b/mycroft/skills/skill_manager.py
@@ -226,6 +226,10 @@ class SkillManager(Thread):
         """Load skills and update periodically from disk and internet."""
         self._remove_git_locks()
         self._connected_event.wait()
+        if not self.skill_updater.defaults_installed():
+            LOG.info('Not all default skills are installed, '
+                     'performing skill update...')
+            self.skill_updater.update_skills()
         self._load_on_startup()
 
         # Sync backend and skills.
diff --git a/mycroft/skills/skill_updater.py b/mycroft/skills/skill_updater.py
index 9535ad9031..ace247e2db 100644
--- a/mycroft/skills/skill_updater.py
+++ b/mycroft/skills/skill_updater.py
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ ONE_HOUR = 3600
 FIVE_MINUTES = 300  # number of seconds in a minute
 
 
+def skill_is_blacklisted(skill):
+    blacklist = Configuration.get()['skills']['blacklisted_skills']
+    return os.path.basename(skill.path) in blacklist or skill.name in blacklist
+
+
 class SkillUpdater:
     """Class facilitating skill update / install actions.
 
@@ -219,6 +224,18 @@ class SkillUpdater:
                 raise
         self.installed_skills.add(skill.name)
 
+    def defaults_installed(self):
+        """Check if all default skills are installed.
+
+        Returns:
+            True if all default skills are installed, else False.
+        """
+        defaults = []
+        for skill in self.msm.default_skills.values():
+            if not skill_is_blacklisted(skill):
+                defaults.append(skill)
+        return all([skill.is_local for skill in defaults])
+
     def _get_device_skill_state(self, skill_name):
         """Get skill data structure from name."""
         device_skill_state = {}