diff --git a/bitbake/bin/toaster b/bitbake/bin/toaster
index f92d38ecab..e0aac1a7bb 100755
--- a/bitbake/bin/toaster
+++ b/bitbake/bin/toaster
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ case $CMD in
             return 4
         fi
         export BITBAKE_UI='toasterui'
-        $MANAGE runbuilds & echo $! >${BUILDDIR}/.runbuilds.pid
+        $MANAGE runbuilds &
         # set fail safe stop system on terminal exit
         trap stop_system SIGHUP
         echo "Successful ${CMD}."
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/bldcontrol/management/commands/runbuilds.py b/bitbake/lib/toaster/bldcontrol/management/commands/runbuilds.py
index 7f7a5a9555..df11f9d162 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/bldcontrol/management/commands/runbuilds.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/bldcontrol/management/commands/runbuilds.py
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ from orm.models import Build, LogMessage, Target
 import logging
 import traceback
 import signal
+import os
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("toaster")
 
+
 class Command(NoArgsCommand):
     args = ""
     help = "Schedules and executes build requests as possible. "\
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
                 logger.debug("runbuilds: No build env")
                 return
 
-            logger.info("runbuilds: starting build %s, environment %s" % \
+            logger.info("runbuilds: starting build %s, environment %s" %
                         (br, bec.be))
 
             # let the build request know where it is being executed
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
 
     def archive(self):
         for br in BuildRequest.objects.filter(state=BuildRequest.REQ_ARCHIVE):
-            if br.build == None:
+            if br.build is None:
                 br.state = BuildRequest.REQ_FAILED
             else:
                 br.state = BuildRequest.REQ_COMPLETED
@@ -99,10 +101,10 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
             Q(updated__lt=timezone.now() - timedelta(seconds=30))
         ).update(lock=BuildEnvironment.LOCK_FREE)
 
-
         # update all Builds that were in progress and failed to start
-        for br in BuildRequest.objects.filter(state=BuildRequest.REQ_FAILED,
-                                              build__outcome=Build.IN_PROGRESS):
+        for br in BuildRequest.objects.filter(
+                state=BuildRequest.REQ_FAILED,
+                build__outcome=Build.IN_PROGRESS):
             # transpose the launch errors in ToasterExceptions
             br.build.outcome = Build.FAILED
             for brerror in br.brerror_set.all():
@@ -117,7 +119,6 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
             br.environment.lock = BuildEnvironment.LOCK_FREE
             br.environment.save()
 
-
         # update all BuildRequests without a build created
         for br in BuildRequest.objects.filter(build=None):
             br.build = Build.objects.create(project=br.project,
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
 
         # Make sure the LOCK is removed for builds which have been fully
         # cancelled
-        for br in BuildRequest.objects.filter(\
+        for br in BuildRequest.objects.filter(
                       Q(build__outcome=Build.CANCELLED) &
                       Q(state=BuildRequest.REQ_CANCELLING) &
                       ~Q(environment=None)):
@@ -168,6 +169,12 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
             logger.warn("runbuilds: schedule exception %s" % str(e))
 
     def handle_noargs(self, **options):
+        pidfile_path = os.path.join(os.environ.get("BUILDDIR", "."),
+                                    ".runbuilds.pid")
+
+        with open(pidfile_path, 'w') as pidfile:
+            pidfile.write("%s" % os.getpid())
+
         self.runbuild()
 
         signal.signal(signal.SIGUSR1, lambda sig, frame: None)
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/management/commands/lsupdates.py b/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/management/commands/lsupdates.py
index 688918e68c..68c6c423d8 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/management/commands/lsupdates.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/management/commands/lsupdates.py
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
             from urlparse import urlparse
 
         proxy_settings = os.environ.get("http_proxy", None)
-        oe_core_layer = 'openembedded-core'
 
         def _get_json_response(apiurl=DEFAULT_LAYERINDEX_SERVER):
             http_progress = Spinner()