diff --git a/aliases.sh b/aliases.sh
index 7e17f8c..90b7d94 100644
--- a/aliases.sh
+++ b/aliases.sh
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@ alias kvm='ssh kvm.isnet.uk'
 alias ultra='ssh gabbaell@mimas.usbx.me'
 alias jade='ssh root@jade.isnet.uk'
 
-alias pacman='~/.src/archnews/archnews_wrap'
+alias pacman="HOME/.checkupdates && ~/.src/archnews/archnews_wrap"
 
 # lf gets confused by TERMINFO env var when running in tmux
 # https://github.com/gokcehan/lf/issues/138#issuecomment-464477665
 if [ -n "$TERMINFO" ] ; then
-  alias lf="TERMINFO= lf -last-dir-path=$HOME/.cache/lf-last-dir"
+  alias lf="TERMINFO= lf -last-dir-path=~/.cache/lf-last-dir"
 else
-	alias lf="lf -last-dir-path=$HOME/.cache/lf-last-dir"
+	alias lf="lf -last-dir-path=~/.cache/lf-last-dir"
 fi
 
 cdlf() {
-	cd "$(cat $HOME/.cache/lf-last-dir)"
+	cd "$(cat ~/.cache/lf-last-dir)"
 }
 
 lfcd() {