diff --git a/src/cron.js b/src/cron.js
index c37946442..8f62a1e53 100644
--- a/src/cron.js
+++ b/src/cron.js
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ function recreateJobs(tz) {
     if (gJobs.boxUpdateCheckerJob) gJobs.boxUpdateCheckerJob.stop();
     gJobs.boxUpdateCheckerJob = new CronJob({
         cronTime: '00 ' + randomMinute + ' * * * *', // once an hour
-        onTick: updateChecker.checkBoxUpdates,
+        onTick: () => updateChecker.checkBoxUpdates(NOOP_CALLBACK),
         start: true,
         timeZone: tz
     });
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ function recreateJobs(tz) {
     if (gJobs.appUpdateChecker) gJobs.appUpdateChecker.stop();
     gJobs.appUpdateChecker = new CronJob({
         cronTime: '00 ' + randomMinute + ' * * * *', // once an hour
-        onTick: updateChecker.checkAppUpdates,
+        onTick: () => updateChecker.checkAppUpdates(NOOP_CALLBACK),
         start: true,
         timeZone: tz
     });
diff --git a/src/updatechecker.js b/src/updatechecker.js
index 2ee128c69..b9c19b0c6 100644
--- a/src/updatechecker.js
+++ b/src/updatechecker.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ exports = module.exports = {
 
 var apps = require('./apps.js'),
     appstore = require('./appstore.js'),
+    assert = require('assert'),
     async = require('async'),
     constants = require('./constants.js'),
     debug = require('debug')('box:updatechecker'),
@@ -24,8 +25,6 @@ var apps = require('./apps.js'),
 var gAppUpdateInfo = { }, // id -> update info { creationDate, manifest }
     gBoxUpdateInfo = null; // { version, changelog, upgrade, sourceTarballUrl }
 
-var NOOP_CALLBACK = function (error) { if (error) debug(error); };
-
 function loadState() {
     var state = safe.JSON.parse(safe.fs.readFileSync(paths.UPDATE_CHECKER_FILE, 'utf8'));
     return state || { };
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ function resetAppUpdateInfo(appId) {
 }
 
 function checkAppUpdates(callback) {
-    callback = callback || NOOP_CALLBACK; // null when called from a timer task
+    assert.strictEqual(typeof callback, 'function');
 
     debug('Checking App Updates');
 
@@ -133,7 +132,7 @@ function checkAppUpdates(callback) {
 }
 
 function checkBoxUpdates(callback) {
-    callback = callback || NOOP_CALLBACK; // null when called from a timer task
+    assert.strictEqual(typeof callback, 'function');
 
     debug('Checking Box Updates');