diff --git a/crates/cargo-test-support/src/compare.rs b/crates/cargo-test-support/src/compare.rs
index da1d0992c7ab..3a60ac5d789f 100644
--- a/crates/cargo-test-support/src/compare.rs
+++ b/crates/cargo-test-support/src/compare.rs
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ fn substitute_macros(input: &str) -> String {
         ("[CHECKING]", "    Checking"),
         ("[COMPLETED]", "   Completed"),
         ("[CREATED]", "     Created"),
+        ("[DOWNGRADING]", " Downgrading"),
         ("[FINISHED]", "    Finished"),
         ("[ERROR]", "error:"),
         ("[WARNING]", "warning:"),
diff --git a/src/cargo/ops/cargo_generate_lockfile.rs b/src/cargo/ops/cargo_generate_lockfile.rs
index 04d4010f45e4..e9757c9c5c9e 100644
--- a/src/cargo/ops/cargo_generate_lockfile.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/ops/cargo_generate_lockfile.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use crate::util::CargoResult;
 use anyhow::Context;
 use log::debug;
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashSet};
-use termcolor::Color::{self, Cyan, Green, Red};
+use termcolor::Color::{self, Cyan, Green, Red, Yellow};
 
 pub struct UpdateOptions<'a> {
     pub config: &'a Config,
@@ -142,7 +142,12 @@ pub fn update_lockfile(ws: &Workspace<'_>, opts: &UpdateOptions<'_>) -> CargoRes
             } else {
                 format!("{} -> v{}", removed[0], added[0].version())
             };
-            print_change("Updating", msg, Green)?;
+
+            if removed[0].version() < added[0].version() {
+                print_change("Updating", msg, Green)?;
+            } else {
+                print_change("Downgrading", msg, Yellow)?;
+            }
         } else {
             for package in removed.iter() {
                 print_change("Removing", format!("{}", package), Red)?;
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/offline.rs b/tests/testsuite/offline.rs
index a69137b95907..fe54fc59df8f 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/offline.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/offline.rs
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ fn main(){
         .with_status(0)
         .with_stderr(
             "\
-[UPDATING] present_dep v1.2.9 -> v1.2.3
+[DOWNGRADING] present_dep v1.2.9 -> v1.2.3
 ",
         )
         .run();
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/update.rs b/tests/testsuite/update.rs
index a2105ba3efe7..057c8fca4a3a 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/update.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/update.rs
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ fn update_precise() {
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 [UPDATING] `[..]` index
-[UPDATING] serde v0.2.1 -> v0.2.0
+[DOWNGRADING] serde v0.2.1 -> v0.2.0
 ",
         )
         .run();
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ fn update_precise_first_run() {
         .with_stderr(
             "\
 [UPDATING] `[..]` index
-[UPDATING] serde v0.2.1 -> v0.2.0
+[DOWNGRADING] serde v0.2.1 -> v0.2.0
 ",
         )
         .run();