diff --git a/kitty/child-monitor.c b/kitty/child-monitor.c
index 5a1eba40f..fdb837d69 100644
--- a/kitty/child-monitor.c
+++ b/kitty/child-monitor.c
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ render(ChildMonitor *self, double *timeout) {
     double now = monotonic();
     double time_since_last_render = now - last_render_at;
     if (time_since_last_render > self->repaint_delay) {
-        ret = PyObject_CallObject(self->render_func, NULL);
+        ret = PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(self->render_func, NULL);
         if (ret == NULL) return false; 
         else Py_DECREF(ret);
         glfwSwapBuffers(glfw_window_id);
diff --git a/kitty/timers.c b/kitty/timers.c
index 1c4c9ca4c..ccfe25d3c 100644
--- a/kitty/timers.c
+++ b/kitty/timers.c
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ timers_call(Timers *self) {
     for (i = 0, j = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
         if (self->events[i].at <= now) {  // expired, call it
             if (self->events[i].callback != Py_None) {
-                PyObject *ret = PyObject_CallObject(self->events[i].callback, self->events[i].args);
+                PyObject *ret = self->events[i].args ? PyObject_CallObject(self->events[i].callback, self->events[i].args) : PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(self->events[i].callback, NULL);
                 if (ret == NULL) PyErr_Print();
                 else Py_DECREF(ret);
             }