diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 02e7728d..90f7ad15 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ## main (unreleased)
 
+* Add an opt-in `update` option to `BundleAudit` to refresh ruby-advisory-db before checking (#812).
+
 * Include command file contents in hook signatures when an absolute path is configured.
 
 * Add a configurable `Vale` pre-commit hook to check spelling and style in text and source files (#758).
diff --git a/config/default.yml b/config/default.yml
index fd94358c..27527163 100644
--- a/config/default.yml
+++ b/config/default.yml
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ PreCommit:
     description: 'Check for vulnerable versions of gems'
     required_executable: 'bundle-audit'
     install_command: 'gem install bundler-audit'
+    update: false # Update ruby-advisory-db before checking for vulnerabilities
 
   BundleCheck:
     enabled: false
diff --git a/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit.rb b/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit.rb
index 1f9f24c7..5446ac29 100644
--- a/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit.rb
+++ b/lib/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 module Overcommit::Hook::PreCommit
   # Checks for vulnerable versions of gems in Gemfile.lock.
   #
+  # Set `update: true` to refresh ruby-advisory-db before checking. Defaults to false.
+  #
   # @see https://github.com/rubysec/bundler-audit
   class BundleAudit < Base
     LOCK_FILE = 'Gemfile.lock'
@@ -13,7 +15,10 @@ def run
                       stdout.split("\n")
       return :pass if ignored_files.include?(LOCK_FILE)
 
-      result = execute(command)
+      audit_command = command
+      audit_command << '--update' if config['update']
+
+      result = execute(audit_command)
       if result.success?
         :pass
       else
diff --git a/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit_spec.rb b/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit_spec.rb
index b8360e2e..1e04e30f 100644
--- a/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/overcommit/hook/pre_commit/bundle_audit_spec.rb
@@ -3,10 +3,19 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe Overcommit::Hook::PreCommit::BundleAudit do
-  let(:config)  { Overcommit::ConfigurationLoader.default_configuration }
+  let(:config) do
+    Overcommit::ConfigurationLoader.default_configuration.merge(
+      Overcommit::Configuration.new('PreCommit' => { 'BundleAudit' => hook_config })
+    )
+  end
+  let(:hook_config) { {} }
   let(:context) { double('context') }
   subject { described_class.new(config, context) }
 
+  it 'defaults to not updating the advisory database' do
+    subject.config['update'].should == false
+  end
+
   context 'when Gemfile.lock is ignored' do
     around do |example|
       repo do
@@ -19,9 +28,22 @@
     end
 
     it { should pass }
+
+    context 'when updating the advisory database is enabled' do
+      let(:hook_config) { { 'update' => true } }
+
+      before do
+        subject.stub(:execute).and_call_original
+        subject.should_not_receive(:execute).with(%w[bundle-audit --update])
+      end
+
+      it { should pass }
+    end
   end
 
   context 'when Gemfile.lock is not ignored' do
+    let(:audit_command) { %w[bundle-audit] }
+
     around do |example|
       repo do
         example.run
@@ -31,7 +53,7 @@
     before do
       subject.stub(:execute).with(%w[git ls-files -o -i --exclude-standard -- Gemfile.lock]).
         and_return(double(stdout: ''))
-      subject.stub(:execute).with(%w[bundle-audit]).and_return(result)
+      subject.stub(:execute).with(audit_command).and_return(result)
     end
 
     context 'and it reports some outdated gems' do
@@ -73,6 +95,30 @@
 
     it { should warn }
 
+    context 'when updating the advisory database is enabled' do
+      let(:audit_command) { %w[bundle-audit --update] }
+      let(:hook_config) { { 'update' => true } }
+
+      it { should warn(result.stdout) }
+
+      context 'and no vulnerabilities are found' do
+        let(:result) { double(success?: true, stdout: 'No vulnerabilities found') }
+
+        it { should pass }
+      end
+
+      context 'with a custom command and flags' do
+        let(:audit_command) { %w[bundle exec bundle-audit check --ignore CVE-2020-12345 --update] }
+
+        let(:hook_config) do
+          super().merge('command' => %w[bundle exec bundle-audit],
+                        'flags' => %w[check --ignore CVE-2020-12345])
+        end
+
+        it { should warn(result.stdout) }
+      end
+    end
+
     context 'and it reports bundle up to date' do
       let(:result) do
         double(success?: true, stdout: 'No vulnerabilities found')