diff --git a/conky.conf b/conky.conf
index d473b44..a89a8f5 100644
--- a/conky.conf
+++ b/conky.conf
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ conky.config = {
 	--Lua Load
 	lua_load = '~/.config/conky/main.lua',
 	lua_draw_hook_post = 'main',
-	lua_startup_hook = string.format('start %f', update_interval),
-	lua_shutdown_hook = 'stop'
+	lua_startup_hook = string.format('start %f', update_interval)
 }
 
 --control updates entirely in lua
diff --git a/main.lua b/main.lua
index ac67171..60ccfea 100644
--- a/main.lua
+++ b/main.lua
@@ -38,10 +38,6 @@ function conky_start(update_interval)
    local devices = {'sda', 'nvme0n1'}
    local battery = 'BAT0'
    local fs_paths = {'/', '/boot', '/home', '/mnt/data', '/mnt/dcache', "/tmp"}
-   local STATS_FILE = '/tmp/.conky_pacman'
-
-   -- TODO so far this seems like the best way to 'fork' a process from conky
-   i_o.execute_cmd('systemctl --user start conky_pacman.timer')
 
    local mem = memory(update_freq)
    local rw = readwrite(update_freq, devices)
@@ -61,6 +57,7 @@ function conky_start(update_interval)
       {pcm.static, fs.static, pwr.static, mem.static}
    )
 
+   local STATS_FILE = '/tmp/.conky_pacman'
 
    draw_dynamic = function(cr, _updates)
       -- draw static components
@@ -94,10 +91,6 @@ function conky_start(update_interval)
    end
 end
 
-function conky_stop()
-   i_o.execute_cmd('systemctl --user stop conky_pacman.timer')
-end
-
 local updates = -2 -- this accounts for the first few spazzy iterations
 
 function conky_main()