diff --git a/i3pystatus/updates/__init__.py b/i3pystatus/updates/__init__.py
index 157015f..cc1dae2 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/updates/__init__.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/updates/__init__.py
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ class Updates(IntervalModule):
     def init(self):
         if not isinstance(self.backends, list):
             self.backends = [self.backends]
-        return
 
     def run(self):
         if not internet():
@@ -88,4 +87,3 @@ class Updates(IntervalModule):
             "full_text": formatp(self.format, **fdict).strip(),
             "color": self.color,
         }
-        return
diff --git a/i3pystatus/updates/aptget.py b/i3pystatus/updates/aptget.py
index acf583b..f73c733 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/updates/aptget.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/updates/aptget.py
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ class AptGet(Backend):
             os.mkdir(cache_dir)
 
         command = "apt-get update -o Dir::State::Lists=" + cache_dir
-        run_through_shell(command)
+        run_through_shell(command.split())
         command = "apt-get upgrade -s -o Dir::State::Lists=" + cache_dir
-        apt = run_through_shell(command)
+        apt = run_through_shell(command.split())
 
         update_count = 0
         for line in apt.out.split("\n"):
diff --git a/i3pystatus/updates/cower.py b/i3pystatus/updates/cower.py
index 3c67c56..144f156 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/updates/cower.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/updates/cower.py
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ class Cower(Backend):
     def updates(self):
         command = ["cower", "-u"]
         cower = run_through_shell(command)
-        out = cower.out.strip()
-
-        return len(out.split("\n")) if len(out) > 0 else 0
+        return cower.out.count('\n')
 
 Backend = Cower
diff --git a/i3pystatus/updates/pacman.py b/i3pystatus/updates/pacman.py
index bc6f2aa..8f40945 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/updates/pacman.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/updates/pacman.py
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ class Pacman(Backend):
     def updates(self):
         command = ["checkupdates"]
         checkupdates = run_through_shell(command)
-        out = checkupdates.out.strip()
-
-        return len(out.split("\n")) if len(out) > 0 else 0
+        return checkupdates.out.count('\n')
 
 Backend = Pacman