diff --git a/conky.conf b/conky.conf
index a89a8f5..d473b44 100644
--- a/conky.conf
+++ b/conky.conf
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ 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_startup_hook = string.format('start %f', update_interval),
+	lua_shutdown_hook = 'stop'
 }
 
 --control updates entirely in lua
diff --git a/main.lua b/main.lua
index 60ccfea..ac67171 100644
--- a/main.lua
+++ b/main.lua
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ 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)
@@ -57,7 +61,6 @@ 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
@@ -91,6 +94,10 @@ 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()