diff --git a/bin/pveupdate b/bin/pveupdate
index 3a00335e..952a54a4 100755
--- a/bin/pveupdate
+++ b/bin/pveupdate
@@ -42,15 +42,13 @@ if (my $err = $@) {
     syslog ('err', "update appliance info failed - see /var/log/pveam.log for details");
 }
 
-if (my $info = PVE::INotify::read_file('subscription')) {
-    # We assume that users with subscriptions want informations
-    # about new packages.
-    if ($info->{status} eq 'Active') {
-	eval { PVE::API2::APT->update_database({ node => $nodename, notify => 1, quiet => 1 }); };
-	if (my $err = $@) {
-	    syslog ('err', "update apt database failed: $err");
-	}
-    }
+my $info = PVE::INotify::read_file('subscription');
+# We assume that users with subscriptions want informations
+# about new packages.
+my $notify = ($info && $info->{status} eq 'Active') ? 1 : 0;
+eval { PVE::API2::APT->update_database({ node => $nodename, notify => $notify, quiet => 1 }); };
+if (my $err = $@) {
+    syslog ('err', "update apt database failed: $err");
 }
 
 sub cleanup_tasks {