diff --git a/.config/qtile/checkUpdates.sh b/.config/qtile/checkUpdates.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..eb792f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.config/qtile/checkUpdates.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Check updates on Arch Linux
+# Note: Create cron on /etc/cron.d/checkupdates with the following lines:
+# 0 * * * * root /usr/bin/pacman -Sy
+# 30 * * * * root /usr/bin/pacman -Sy
+if [ -f /usr/bin/pacman ] ; then
+  num_packages=$(pacman -Qu | wc -l)
+	echo "${num_packages}"
+
+# Check updates on Ubuntu/Debian/Devuan
+# Note: Create cron on /etc/cron.d/checkupdates with the following lines:
+# 0 * * * * root /usr/bin/aptitude update
+# 30 * * * * root /usr/bin/aptitude update
+elif [ -f /usr/bin/aptitude ] ; then
+  num_packages=$(aptitude search "~U" | wc -l)
+	echo "${num_packages}"
+
+# Disable for other distros
+else 
+  echo "0"
+fi
diff --git a/.config/qtile/settings/widgets.py b/.config/qtile/settings/widgets.py
index 5f5d887..13063c0 100644
--- a/.config/qtile/settings/widgets.py
+++ b/.config/qtile/settings/widgets.py
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@ def base(fg='text', bg='dark'):
         'background': colors[bg]
     }
 
-
 def separator():
     return widget.Sep(**base(), linewidth=0, padding=5)
 
-
 def icon(fg='text', bg='dark', fontsize=16, text="?"):
     return widget.TextBox(
         **base(fg, bg),
@@ -78,7 +76,8 @@ primary_widgets = [
         no_update_string='0',
         display_format='{updates}',
         update_interval=1800,
-        custom_command='checkupdates',
+        #custom_command='checkupdates',
+        custom_command='bash ~/.config/qtile/checkUpdates.sh',
     ),
 
     powerline('color3', 'color5'),