diff --git a/libraries/databaseTools.py b/libraries/databaseTools.py
index 752ea59b9..69471ffea 100644
--- a/libraries/databaseTools.py
+++ b/libraries/databaseTools.py
@@ -3516,7 +3516,6 @@ class etpDatabase(TextInterface):
         self.commitChanges()
 
     def createTreeupdatesactionsBranchColumn(self):
-        self.checkReadOnly()
         try: # if database disk image is malformed, won't raise exception here
             self.cursor.execute('ALTER TABLE treeupdatesactions ADD COLUMN branch VARCHAR;')
             self.cursor.execute('UPDATE treeupdatesactions SET branch = (?)', (str(etpConst['branch']),))
diff --git a/libraries/entropy.py b/libraries/entropy.py
index 9aa4156ef..dd1d433db 100644
--- a/libraries/entropy.py
+++ b/libraries/entropy.py
@@ -6667,6 +6667,7 @@ class SecurityInterface:
         # remove temp stuff
         self.__cleanup_garbage()
 
+        # FIXME: this doesn't seem to work?
         if self.advisories_changed:
             advtext = darkgreen("Security Advisories: updated successfully")
         else:
@@ -6676,7 +6677,7 @@ class SecurityInterface:
                                 advtext,
                                 importance = 2,
                                 type = "info",
-                                header = red(" @@ ")
+                                header = red("@@ ")
                             )
 
         return 0